CAPE SAINT CLAIRE, Md. (Interstat) — In the opener of a Patriot League doubleheader on Saturday, Bucknell broke open a tight game with a five-run seventh inning to defeat Navy 7-3 at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.

The Bison (8-10, 1-0 Patriot) pounded out 10 hits and capitalized on a critical Navy error to pull away from the Midshipmen (14-7, 0-1), who managed only three hits on the day.

Bucknell struck first in the opening inning. Billy Fluhar led off with a single, advanced to third on a flyout and scored on Garrett Mathias’s sacrifice fly to right field.

Navy answered immediately in the bottom half against Bucknell starter Mikey Myro. After a walk and a stolen base, Victor Izquierdo reached on a fielder’s choice, setting the stage for Ty DePerno. The Navy second baseman launched a two-run homer to left field, giving the Midshipmen a 2-1 lead.

The Midshipmen added another run in the third without a hit. DePerno was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a throwing error by Myro, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Patrick Walsh.

Trailing 3-1, the game remained a pitchers’ duel between Myro and Navy starter Brady Bendik. Bendik was effective, striking out nine over 6 1/3 innings, but the Bucknell offense broke through in the decisive seventh.

Michael Trom singled and Ty Lagoni reached on a fielding error by Navy third baseman, putting runners at second and third with one out. After an intentional walk to Mathias loaded the bases, Bucknell third baseman Zach Selfon delivered a two-run single through the right side, tying the game at 3-3 and chasing Bendik.

Reliever Spencer Stephens entered for Navy but could not stem the tide. After a walk reloaded the bases, pinch-hitter Ryan Facinelli cleared them with a three-run double to left-center field, giving Bucknell a 6-3 lead. Pinch-hitter Deacon Bowne followed with an RBI single to cap the five-run, four-hit inning.

The most important part of the game was Bucknell’s two-out rally in the seventh. The inning was extended by the Navy error, and Selfon’s game-tying single and Facinelli’s go-ahead double transformed a one-run deficit into a commanding lead, all after Bendik had exited with one out.

Myro earned the win for Bucknell, working five innings and allowing three runs, all earned, on two hits with three strikeouts. Despite the early home run, he settled in to keep the Bison close. Tyler Seidman provided two perfect innings of relief to secure the victory.

For Navy, Bendik took the loss. DePerno’s first-inning homer accounted for the Midshipmen’s only extra-base hit and two of their three RBIs.

The victory gave Bucknell a win in its Patriot League opener and improved its record to 8-10 overall. Navy fell to 14-7. The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday.

The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 7-6 Navy victory and whose ELO system gave the Midshipmen a 58.10 percent probability to win.