KINGS POINT, N.Y. (March 26, 2025) – An inside-the-park grand slam by freshman Luke Kruer (Sellersburg, Ind.) capped a 10-run sixth inning as the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy baseball team defeated NJCU, 13-4. USMMA improved to 7-8, while NJCU dropped to 9-6-1.
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Luke Kruer 

Kruer finished 1-for-4 with five RBIs to pace USMMA, while senior Garrett Clapsaddle (Murphy, N.C.) was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Freshman Louis Inserra (Coplay, Pa.) had a double, a triple and an RBI as part of a 3-for-4 game, and sophomore Landon Troutt (Fairfield, Calif.) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two walks. Sophomore Tommy Chiappetti (Buckeye, Ariz.) earned the win after striking out seven and surrendering just two runs in 6.0 innings of work.
 
Chiappetti had two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 first inning and retired the first six batters before issuing a leadoff walk in the third. The righty struck out two more batters in a 1-2-3 fourth.
 
The Mariners then took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. After consecutive one-out singles by Troutt, Chiappetti and Clapsaddle loaded the bases, Kruer was plunked with two outs to force in a run.
 
The Gothic Knights responded with two runs in the sixth. A one-out single started things before a wild pitch and an RBI double tied the game. A two-out RBI single then put NJCU up, 2-1.
 
USMMA answered immediately, sending 15 men to the plate and pushing across 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth. Clapsaddle and sophomore Christian Gamez (Kent Island, Md.) led off with back-to-back singles before senior Danny Heck (Massillon, Ohio) tied the game with an RBI fielder's choice. After Inserra gave the Mariners a 3-2 lead with an RBI double, sophomore Ricardo Olivares (Flower Mound, Texas) walked to load the bases and senior Jack Millen (Shelby, N.C.) walked to force in a run. Clapsaddle later added a two-run single before Kruer provided the exclamation point with an inside-the-park grand slam that gave the Mariners a commanding 11-2 lead.
 
The Mariners scored on a double play in the seventh and Troutt drew a walk with the bases loaded in the eighth for a 13-2 advantage.
 
An error helped the Gothic Knights plate two runs in the ninth for the final 13-4 margin.
 
The Mariners open Skyline play at home with a noon doubleheader against Yeshiva on Sunday, March 30. In between games of the double-dip, USMMA will pay tribute to its five graduating seniors with a special Senior Day ceremony.
 
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