KINGS POINT, N.Y. (March 18, 2025) – Five players registered multi-RBI games as the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy baseball team took control with a five-run first and rolled to a 15-5 victory against FDU-Florham. USMMA improved to 5-6, while FDU-Florham dropped to 7-9.
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Danny Heck

Freshman Luke Kruer (Sellersburg, Ind.) finished 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and four RBIs to help lead the Mariners. Senior Garrett Clapsaddle (Murphy, N.C.) went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored, while classmate Danny Heck (Massillon, Ohio) was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run. Sophomore Christian Gamez (Kent Island, Md.) had two RBIs as part of a 3-for-6 game and classmate Landon Troutt (Fairfield, Calif.) went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Senior Jacob Syversen (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) struck out five and allowed two runs, one earned, for the win.
 
The Mariners sent 10 men to the plate as part of the five-run first frame. After senior Jack Millen (Shelby, N.C.) drew a leadoff walk and Troutt doubled, sophomore Tommy Chiappetti (Buckeye, Ariz.) reached on an error that allowed a run to score. Clapsaddle then made it 3-0 with a two-run single to center before a wild pitch and a Gamez single set up runners on the corners with no outs. Sophomore Ricardo Olivares (Flower Mound, Texas) added an RBI fielder's choice and Kruer gave USMMA a 5-0 lead with an RBI triple.
 
The Devils broke through with two runs in third after loading the bases with no outs. Syversen responded with a strikeout and a fly out, but a two-run single made it a 5-2 ballgame.
 
USMMA promptly answered in the bottom of third as Heck pushed the lead back to five, 7-2, with a two-run blast to left.
 
 Syversen worked a quick 1-2-3 fourth and the USMMA offense went right back to work with a two-out rally in the bottom of the frame. After the first two batters were retired, Clapsaddle extended the inning with a single. Gamez made it back-to-back singles before a walk to Olivares loaded the bases. Kruer then cleared the bases with a three-run double that put the Mariners up, 10-2.
 
 USMMA tacked on three more runs in the fifth after Heck set the table with a leadoff double. The next two batters were retired before Chiappetti plated a run with an RBI single. Clapsaddle followed with another single and Gamez capped the inning with a two-run double that made it 13-2.
 
FDU loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth and made it a 13-5 ballgame with a three-run double.
 
The Mariners responded in the bottom of the inning as a two-out, two-run double by Troutt pushed the lead to 15-5.
 
The Mariners travel to Union, N.J., on Saturday, March 22, for a noon doubleheader against Kean.
 
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