MILLINGTON, Tenn. (2-24-2008) ? Arkansas State junior pitcher Jacob Maggard pitched six scoreless innings and junior outfielder Derrick Coleman went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI to lead the Indians (2-1) to an 8-1 victory over Navy (2-1) Sunday afternoon in the final game of the 2008 Service Academy Spring Classic at USA Stadium.
Arkansas State earned the runner-up trophy with the win, while Ohio State went 3-0 in the tournament to take home first place.
Maggard, appearing in his first game since undergoing Tommy John surgery eight months ago, gave up just three hits on the day, striking out five Midshipmen while walking two.
“Jacob was in command the entire day,” said ASU Head Coach Keith Kessinger. “He put together a very strong performance, and we felt like they might not have scored if we had continued to leave him in the game.”
Arkansas State jumped on top early as Coleman led off the game with a solo home run to give the Tribe a 1-0 lead. Coleman, a switch hitter, sent the 2-0 pitch over the left center field wall.
“Coleman is a guy who can really play the game,” said Kessinger. “He hasn't shown a whole lot of power when batting from the right-hand side, and I almost gave him the take sign on the 2-0 pitch. I'm glad I didn't because he sent the pitch over the scoreboard.”
Arkansas State held the 1-0 lead until the sixth, when freshman Todd Baumgartner singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch for the 2-0 Indian advantage. The Tribe tacked on two more in the seventh, getting an unearned run and an RBI single from Coleman, before putting the game away with four runs in the eighth.
Freshmen Murray Watts and Drew Benes each delivered RBI doubles to put the Indians up 6-0, and ASU made it 8-0 after an RBI single from Coleman and a sacrifice from Baumgartner.
Navy's lone run came in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single from Thomas Hamilton.
The Indians will be back in action Monday evening when they host Williams Baptist College in the 2008 home debut at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field. The first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
