Carlson came on in relief of Navy starter Yale Eckert with two guys on and two out in the fifth and recorded a strikeout to get out of the jam. The Navy right-hander would have a runner on third with two outs in the sixth, but closed the door again with a strikeout. Carlson did not let Princeton reach scoring position over his final-two frames to pick up his first-collegiate win. He allowed just one hit in 3.1 innings with no walks and five strikeouts, extending his unearned run streak to 14.2 innings this season.

''Drew came in and did another great job for us,'' stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. ''He had a really good get-out with the runner in scoring position in the fifth. From that point on, he really settled the game down.''

Melton took over to start the ninth and was greeted with a single to center. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, Melton got in on the hands of left-handed hitter Adrian Turnham to force him to pop out on the first pitch. One batter later, Melton fielded a come-backer and threw to first to pick up his fourth save of the season.

''JD did exactly what the closer needs to do,'' said Kostacopoulos. ''It got a little hairy with the leadoff single, but he fields his position well and made the pitches he needed to make.''

Princeton jumped on Eckert immediately, as Dan DeGeorge led off the contest with a solo shot to left. However, Navy immediately answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning and never trailed afterwards.

With two outs and a runner on first, Mitch Harris doubled down the left field line to score Thomas Hamilton, who reached on a fielder’s choice, and tie the game at one. Princeton starter Steven Miller then dropped the ball while toeing the rubber, allowing Harris to move to third on a balk. Harris would eventually score on the same at bat, as Miller threw a wild pitch.

Navy made the score 3-1 in the third, as Hamilton and Harris produced back-to-back one-out singles before Jonathan Berkowitz lined a single to left to plate Hamilton.

Princeton would make things interesting in the fifth and chased Eckert out of the ballgame with a run on three hits before Carlson secured Navy’s one-run cushion.

Harris was the lone Navy hitter to register a multi-hit performance March 23, as he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, one run scored and one RBI. Princeton out-hit Navy in the series finale, 12-7.