WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Navy was eliminated from the NCAA baseball tournament last night, dropping a losers'-bracket game to fourth-ranked and regional host Wake Forest, 13-1.
The Demon Deacons were led by Stephen Ghutzman, who was 3-for-5 with six RBIs, and Jamie D'Antona, who was 3-for-4 with four RBIs.
Navy reached last night's game by eliminating George Washington, 6-4, in the afternoon, as reliever Steve Goocey struck out cleanup hitter Mike Bassett with two on in the ninth inning.
The victory was the Midshipmen's first in the NCAA tournament in 20 years and fourth in school history.
"That was a great win for us. It was actually pretty emotional for me," Navy coach Steve Whitmyer said.
"Our guys were pretty disappointed yesterday [after a 15-5 loss Friday to Richmond], because they didn't feel like they showed anybody here in the regional or nationally that we belonged in this tournament. I think we had a little extra incentive and motivation to play well today. They gave every ounce of everything they had. I'm real proud of them."
Starter Matt Foster struck out seven Colonials in 7 1/3 innings, and Craig Candeto and Brad Hager homered.
Navy's last NCAA tournament win came in 1982 when the Mids defeated Delaware, 3-1, and Seton Hall, 15-5, in the Northeast Region in Orono, Maine.
It was also just the second NCAA tournament win for a Patriot League school, the other coming in 1993 when Fordham beat Connecticut.
Wake Forest fell into the losers' bracket by losing, 3-2, in the afternoon to 23rd-ranked Richmond. Wake needs to beat Richmond twice today to win theregional.
Last night, Wake Forest's Tim Morley held Navy to six hits, including two by Chris Ashinhurst.
"Tim Morley was awesome," Whitmyer said.
