March 14, 2002

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. * In the final game of its Spring Break trip, the Navy baseball team dropped a 5-1 decision to Butler Thursday afternoon at Harmon Stadium on the campus of North Florida.

"I am very disappointed in our play today," Navy head coach Steve Whitmyer said. "You have to give credit Butler's starting pitcher John Corcoran, who did a good job holding us down after giving up one run in the first inning. It was not one of our better efforts."

Navy took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Craig Candeto (So./Orange City, Fla.) scored from third, as Jake Miller reached base on a throwing error by BU shortstop Jared Lowe.

BU (6-7) tied the game in the top of the third when outfielder Jonathan Day came home on a wild pitch by Navy starting pitcher Steve Goocey (Jr./Duncannon, Pa.).

A three-run fourth inning on two hits, gave the Bulldogs a 4-1 lead. With the bases loaded and nobody out, third baseman Jeff Albert doubled to left center, scoring Tim Marks and Paul Beck. Matt Crews then scored from third base on Dale Mueller's sacrifice fly to left field.

First baseman Ryan Nance's RBI-single to right field plated Day to increase BU's lead to 5-1 in the top of the seventh.

Corcoran worked 7.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits to improve to 2-1 overall. Making his second career start, Goocey gave up four runs on four hits and dropped to 0-1.

Navy (5-10) went 1-4 in the Sunshine state, losing its last four games after defeating Rhode Island, 5-3, in 11 innings Sunday.

"I can't really say that I am pleased with the trip as a whole," Whitmyer said. "Regardless of our opponent, we expect to win our share of games. Going 1-4 is not winning our share of games. I am disappointed, and I know our team is disappointed. We just have to move on."

Navy returns to action March 21 at 3 p.m. when the Mids play host to Brown at Max Bishop Stadium in their 2002 home opener.