FORT PIERCE, Fla. (March 12, 2025) – Facing an eight-run deficit through four frames, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy baseball team twice closed to within two before ultimately falling to Washington College, 14-9. USMMA fell to 3-5, while Washington improved to 9-3.
 
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• Box Score

Freshman Braden Vazquez (Missouri City, Texas) went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while sophomore Landon Troutt (Fairfield, Calif.) was 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI. Senior Garrett Clapsaddle (Murphy, N.C.) finished 1-for-5 with two RBI and sophomore Ricardo Olivares (Flower Mound, Texas) was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
 
The Mariners threatened in the third as a Troutt walk and a double from senior Jack Millen (Shelby, N.C.) set up runners on second and third with one out, but a strike out and a popup ended the frame.
 
The Shoremen then grabbed the lead with four runs in the bottom of frame. A one-out single started things before an RBI double made it 1-0. After a walk and an RBI single, a wild pitch brought home a run and a sacrifice fly put Washington up by a 4-0 score.
 
Washington doubled its lead in the fourth with another four-run frame. A one-out walk set the table before a single and a double steal set up a two-run single. Another walk and back-to-back two-out RBI singles followed as the Shoremen took an 8-0 lead.
 
USMMA responded in the fifth as six-straight singles opened the inning and led to six runs. After singles by Olivares, Troutt and Millen loaded the bases, Vazquez put the Mariners on the board with a two-run single through the left side. Sophomore Tommy Chiappetti (Buckeye, Ariz.) then reloaded the bases with a single to center before Clapsaddle made it 8-4 with a two-run single to left. A wild pitch led to another run and freshman Ben Taylor (Lexington, Ky.) followed with a sacrifice fly that brought the Mariners to within 8-6.
 
Washington promptly answered in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out, two-run home run that made it a 10-6 ballgame.
 
After the Shoremen added a run in the sixth, USMMA plated three two-out runs in the seventh. Freshman Luke Kruer (Sellersburg, Ind.) was plunked with one out before classmate Carter O'Neel (Omaha, Neb.) drew a two-out walk and Olivares was plunked to load the bases. Troutt then cleared the bases and brought the Mariners to within 11-9 with a three-run triple.
 
Washington, however, got all three runs back in the bottom of the seventh. A one-out single was followed by an RBI triple before an error allowed another run to score. A sacrifice fly then gave the Shoremen a 14-9 lead.
 
The Mariners continue their Florida trip on Friday, March 14, with a 10 a.m. contest against Penn State Behrend.
 
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