CAPE SAINT CLAIRE, Md. (Interstat) — Matt Archibald delivered six strong innings and the Navy offense erupted for a four-run third inning to seize control as the Midshipmen defeated Bucknell 8-3 in the first game of a Patriot League doubleheader on Saturday at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.

Archibald, the top star for Navy, earned the win to improve Navy’s season record to 15-7. The right-hander allowed three runs on three hits, striking out seven and walking two. His performance followed a dominant outing on March 14, when he threw eight no-hit innings against Lehigh. Bucknell’s season mark fell to 8-11.

The game’s decisive sequence unfolded in the bottom of the third inning against Bucknell starter Everett Garber. Trailing 3-0, Navy loaded the bases with no outs via a walk to Patrick Walsh, a hit-by-pitch to Will Howard, and, after a strikeout, another hit-by-pitch to Mason Ceccarelli. Tyler Cripe then sliced a two-run single to left field, scoring Walsh and Howard to cut the deficit to one run. Victor Izquierdo followed with an infield single to reload the bases.

Ty DePerno provided the biggest blow of the frame, doubling down the right-field line to drive in two more runs, giving Navy a 4-3 lead it would not relinquish. The four-run inning gave Archibald all the support he would need.

Navy extended its lead in the fifth when Izquierdo singled up the middle to score Tristan Bouchard, who had walked and stolen second, making it 5-3.

Bucknell mounted its only significant threat in the sixth. Deacon Bowne doubled and Billy Fluhar walked. After a walk loaded the bases, Ty Lagoni was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Garrett Mathias then lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Fluhar to pull the Bison within 5-4. A double steal allowed Michael Trom to score from third, tying the game briefly at 5-5.

The tie was short-lived. Navy responded immediately in the home half of the sixth, chasing Garber. After a leadoff groundout, Christian Klug singled and scored on Walsh’s RBI double to right-center. Following another out and a walk, Ceccarelli delivered a two-run single down the first-base line, plating Walsh and Bouchard to push the Navy advantage to 8-5.

From there, the Midshipmen bullpen slammed the door. Reliever Tyler Grenn was overpowering in three perfect innings of work, striking out five of the nine batters he faced to earn the save. Bucknell’s Tyler Hawkins provided 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in a losing effort.

Archibald’s outing and the six-run combined effort from the third and sixth innings proved the difference, outpacing a Bucknell offense that managed only three hits. The Midshipmen finished with eight hits, led by Izquierdo’s two hits and one RBI, while DePerno and Ceccarelli each drove in two runs.

The game was the opener of a three-game Patriot League series. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Navy 7, Bucknell 6, with its ELO system giving the Midshipmen a 58.1% probability to win.