KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Feb. 23, 2025) –  The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy baseball team bounced back from a game one defeat to win game two and split a season-opening doubleheader at home against Union. The Mariners were defeated, 6-3, in the opener before notching a 7-5 victory in game two. USMMA and Union each open the season 1-1.
 
Game Links

• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Senior Jacob Syversen
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Freshman Braden Vazquez 

Game 1
A four-run third inning proved to be the difference as Union took the seven-inning opener, 6-3. Freshman Ben Taylor (Lexington, Ky.) finished 1-for-3 with a solo home run, while senior Garrett Clapsaddle (Murphy, N.C.) and freshman Braden Vazquez (Missouri City, Texas) each went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Junior Ryan Felton (Granbury, Texas) started and took the loss after allowing four runs in 3.0 innings of work.
 
USMMA took a 1-0 lead in the second after Taylor launched a one-out solo home run to left field.
 
Union, however, sent eight men to the plate as part of a four-run third that was punctuated by a grand slam. A leadoff walk, a double and another walk loaded the bases with no outs for the Garnet Chargers. After a fielder's choice led to a forceout at home, the grand slam put Union on top by a 4-1 score.
 
The Mariners pulled to within 4-2 with a run in the fifth. Sophomore Landon Troutt (Fairfield, Calif.) was plunked with one out before sophomore Ricardo Olivares (Flower Mound, Texas) singled to set up runners on the corners. Vazquez then chased home a run with an RBI single up the middle.
 
Union pushed its lead to 6-2 in the sixth after a leadoff double was followed by an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly.
 
USMMA took advantage of a leadoff walk to make it 6-3 with a run in the sixth. Freshman Luke Kruer (Sellersburg, Ind.) walked and moved to second on a wild pitch before Clapsaddle followed with an RBI single up the middle. The Mariners threatened for more as a double by freshman Louis Inserra (Coplay, Pa.) set up runners on second and third with one out, but the next two batters were retired and both runners were stranded.
 
The Mariners were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
 
Game 2
With the game tied at 5-5 through five frames, the Mariners plated runs in the sixth and seventh for a 7-5 victory. Vazquez finished 2-for-3 with a three-run triple, while sophomore Tommy Chiappetti (Buckeye, Ariz.) went 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, and Inserra was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Senior Jacob Syversen (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) had six strikeouts in 4.1 innings of one-run ball to earn the win in relief.
 
A one-out error helped set the table for a two-out RBI double as Union took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
 
Sophomore starter David Cherwonuk (Chattanooga, Tenn.) worked a quick 1-2-3 second and the USMMA offense sent nine men to the plate in the bottom of the frame as part of a five-run inning. Clapsaddle singled to lead things off before Taylor walked and Inserra tied the game with an RBI single. Troutt was plunked to load the bases before Vazquez cleared them with a one-out triple to right. Chiappetti promptly followed with an RBI single and the Mariners led, 5-1.
 
Union then chased Cherwonuk and tied the game with a four-run fourth. After the Garnet Chargers loaded the bases with two outs, the Mariners went to the bullpen and Syversen was greeted with consecutive two-run singles as Union evened the score at 5-5.
 
Syversen struck out a pair in a scoreless fifth and put up another zero with an inning-ending double play in the sixth.
 
An error then helped the Mariners retake the lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Inserra led off with an infield single, but advanced to second with an errant throw on the play. After a Troutt single set up runners on the corners with no outs, senior Danny Heck (Massillon, Ohio) grounded into a run-scoring double play to put USMMA back on top, 6-5.
 
Syversen struck out the side in the seventh and the Mariners added another run in the bottom of the inning to make it a 7-5 ballgame. A walk to senior Jack Millen (Shelby, N.C.) led off the inning before a Chiappetti single set up runners on the corners with no outs. Kruer then plated a run with a 4-6-3 double play.
 
Union loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but Syversen escaped the jam and preserved the two-run lead with an inning-ending fielder's choice.
 
Freshman Cody White (San Diego, Calif.) struck out the side as part of a 1-2-3 ninth to register the save.
 
The Mariners host Ithaca on Saturday, March 1, for a noon doubleheader.
 
Receive USMMA Baseball News Right To Your E-Mail!
If you would like to receive the latest news, including all press releases, for the USMMA baseball team (or any other team at the academy), sent directly to your e-mail, fill out this form.
 
Follow USMMA Athletics On Social Media!
Be sure to follow USMMA Athletics on social media to get up-to-the-minute updates on your favorite teams! Start following today on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!