United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Baseball

FORT MYERS, FLA.--(3/6/10)--Elms took advantage of 12 walks, three hit batters and five errors and despite getting just four hits, the Blazers beat Coast Guard 7-4 at the Gene Cusic Classic, the season opener for both teams.

Coast Guard started five freshman including starting pitcher James Diddell, who worked six innings and allowed three hits, six runs, five earned, but he walked nine while striking out three in taking the loss. Freshman Tyler Vieira was impressive in his collegiate debut as he worked the final three innings allowing just one hit, an unearned run while walking three and striking out five.

The Blazers led 3-0 after two innings before Coast Guard scored twice in the home half of the third on an RBI ground out by Steve Arguelles and an RBI single by freshman Tyler Babkiewich, the first hit and RBI of his career.

Elms led 4-2 when the Bears again cut the lead to one in the sixth on an RBI single by freshman Eric Gerken.

Coast Guard, trailing 7-3 in the eighth, had the bases loaded in the eighth, but the inning ended on a double play and the Bears scored once in the ninth on a RBI single by senior Ryan Milligan, who had three of the Bears 11 hits in the game.

Gerken and freshman Ed Sella each were each 2 for 3 in their collegiate debuts. Gerken reached base four times as he walked and was also hit by a pitch.

Freshman catcher Cameron Carroll as had his first career this for the Bears, who left 13 runners on base in the loss.