Navy Baseball 2026 Season Recap: Midshipmen Win 30 Games, Build Around Elite Pitching and Fall Short in Patriot League Semifinals

Navy baseball put together one of its strongest seasons in recent years in 2026, finishing 30-19 overall and 16-10 in Patriot League play. The Midshipmen won 17 games at home, 11 on the road and two on neutral fields. Navy also reached 30 wins for the first time since 2019, which made the season a meaningful step forward even though the year ended with a Patriot League semifinal sweep against Bucknell.

The season had several clear themes. Navy had legitimate frontline pitching, led by Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Brady Bendik and strikeout machine Matt Archibald. The lineup did not always dominate, but the Midshipmen had enough balance, speed and young production to win series and stay near the top of the league. Navy hit .255 as a team, posted a .368 on-base percentage and stole 132 bases in 164 attempts. The pitching staff carried a 4.06 ERA, struck out 442 batters in 421.2 innings and held opponents to a .244 batting average.

The ending hurt because Navy had enough talent to make a championship push. Bucknell beat the Midshipmen 16-4 and 6-4 in the Patriot League semifinals, cutting short a season that had championship potential. Still, Navy’s 2026 campaign gave the program a strong foundation, several award-winning players and plenty to build on.

Season Snapshot

Navy finished 30-19 overall and 16-10 in Patriot League play. The Midshipmen earned the No. 3 seed in the Patriot League tournament and traveled to No. 2 Bucknell for the semifinal round.

The Midshipmen scored 278 runs across 49 games. Navy collected 395 hits, 69 doubles, 17 triples and 34 home runs. Patrick Walsh led qualified hitters with a .296 average, while Chris Klug hit .294 and Tyler Cripe hit .292. Cripe drove in a team-best 39 runs, Walsh added 37 RBIs and Victor Izquierdo finished with 49 hits, 36 runs, 32 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.

The pitching staff gave Navy a chance almost every weekend. Bendik finished 6-4 with a 2.42 ERA, 91 strikeouts and 81.2 innings. Archibald went 7-3 with a 2.35 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 65 innings. Tyler Grenn added a 2.78 ERA across 58.1 innings, while Jackson Clark and Jackson Beattie gave Navy important bullpen innings.

Top Player Highlights

Brady Bendik

Bendik became the centerpiece of Navy’s season. Bendik earned Patriot League Pitcher of the Year honors after giving the Midshipmen a true ace. Bendik finished the year with a 2.42 ERA, a 6-4 record, two complete games, 91 strikeouts and only 27 walks in 81.2 innings. Bendik’s command, workload and ability to keep Navy in games made the junior one of the best arms in the league.

Matt Archibald

Archibald gave Navy another frontline starter and finished with the best strikeout total on the roster. Archibald went 7-3 with a 2.35 ERA, 98 strikeouts and a .171 batting average against. Archibald’s ability to miss bats changed the ceiling of the pitching staff. Navy did not need to survive with one ace because Archibald gave the Midshipmen a second dominant arm.

Tyler Cripe

Cripe became one of Navy’s most important offensive pieces as a freshman. Cripe hit .292 with five home runs, seven doubles, two triples and a team-high 39 RBIs. Cripe also walked 21 times and stole seven bases. The freshman gave Navy middle-of-the-order production and showed signs of becoming one of the program’s next standout hitters.

Patrick Walsh

Walsh led qualified Navy hitters with a .296 average and posted a team-best .926 OPS. Walsh hit 11 doubles, four triples and five home runs while driving in 37 runs. Walsh’s extra-base ability stood out all season. The freshman gave Navy a dangerous bat and became one of the biggest long-term positives from the year.

Chris Klug

Klug hit .294, scored 27 runs and stole 18 bases. Klug gave Navy speed, athleticism and consistent contact. Klug also earned All-Patriot League First Team honors, which reflected the all-around value he brought to the lineup.

Victor Izquierdo

Izquierdo finished as one of Navy’s most complete players. Izquierdo hit .259, led the team with 49 hits, scored 36 runs, hit 10 doubles, four triples and five home runs, drove in 32 runs and stole 18 bases. Izquierdo also handled a major defensive role and gave Navy veteran production.

Game-By-Game Recap

Feb. 13: Navy 12, Queens 1

Navy opened the season with a statement win at Queens. The Midshipmen scored early and never let the opener become tense. A 12-1 win in seven innings gave Navy the exact start it wanted: clean offense, pressure on the bases and enough pitching to avoid burning through the bullpen.

Feb. 14: Queens 2, Navy 1

Queens answered in the first game of a Feb. 14 doubleheader. Navy’s offense cooled off after the explosive opener, and the Midshipmen dropped a tight 2-1 game. The loss showed the early-season reality that Navy’s lineup could produce big numbers, but execution in low-scoring games would matter all year.

Feb. 14: Navy 12, Queens 4

Navy responded right away with another 12-run effort. The Midshipmen took the series with a 12-4 win and left Charlotte with a 2-1 record. The opening weekend showed Navy’s offensive upside and gave the team early confidence away from Annapolis.

Feb. 17: Navy 12, Delaware State 0

Navy’s home opener became one of the most complete games of the season. The Midshipmen beat Delaware State 12-0 in seven innings. Navy dominated every phase, and the shutout gave the pitching staff an early highlight. The offense again showed the ability to break games open.

Feb. 20: Navy 5, Air Force 3

Navy beat Air Force 5-3 in Columbia, South Carolina, during Salute the Troops Weekend. The win carried extra meaning because of the service academy matchup. Navy did not need a huge offensive day. The Midshipmen made enough plays, protected the lead and picked up one of their better early neutral-site wins.

Feb. 21: South Carolina 8, Navy 0

South Carolina gave Navy a measuring-stick game against a high-major opponent. The Gamecocks shut out the Midshipmen 8-0. The loss exposed Navy’s offensive inconsistency against higher-end arms, but it also gave the Midshipmen an early look at the level they needed to reach.

Feb. 22: Navy 8, Marshall 1

Navy rebounded quickly with an 8-1 win over Marshall. The Midshipmen closed the South Carolina weekend on a strong note and improved to 5-2. The response mattered. Navy did not let the South Carolina loss turn into a longer slide.

Feb. 27: Navy 5, St. Bonaventure 4

Navy opened its St. Bonaventure series with a 5-4 win in Annapolis. The Midshipmen had to work for the victory, but close wins became a key part of their season. Navy’s ability to win tight games helped the team build momentum before Patriot League play.

Feb. 28: St. Bonaventure 12, Navy 0

St. Bonaventure flipped the series with a 12-0 win. The shutout was one of Navy’s roughest early losses. The Midshipmen struggled to generate offense and could not keep the game within reach.

March 1: Navy 4, St. Bonaventure 0

Navy answered with a 4-0 shutout to win the series. That response told a lot about the team. The Midshipmen could take a bad loss, reset quickly and lean on pitching the next day.

March 3: Navy 8, Coppin State 7

Navy beat Coppin State 8-7 in a game that showed both resilience and vulnerability. The Midshipmen scored enough to survive, but Coppin State pushed them hard. Navy found a way to win a local matchup and avoid a midweek stumble.

March 6: Dartmouth 3, Navy 1

Dartmouth opened a four-game series in Annapolis by holding Navy to one run. The 3-1 loss became another reminder that Navy’s offense could stall when opponents controlled the strike zone.

March 7: Navy 8, Dartmouth 7

Navy came back the next day with an 8-7 win. The Midshipmen showed fight and protected the home field in a one-run game. This was the type of game that helped Navy’s confidence grow before conference play.

March 7: Navy 11, Dartmouth 3

Navy completed the doubleheader sweep with an 11-3 win. The offense found its rhythm, and the Midshipmen turned the day into a strong bounce-back performance after the series-opening loss.

March 8: Navy 4, Dartmouth 3, 10 innings

Navy won the series finale 4-3 in 10 innings. The Midshipmen took three of four from Dartmouth and showed they could win in different ways. The extra-inning victory gave Navy an important early-season toughness test.

March 10: Navy 15, Norfolk State 8

Navy’s bats erupted in a 15-8 road win over Norfolk State. The Midshipmen posted one of their best offensive games of the season. The win pushed Navy into Patriot League play with momentum and confidence.

Patriot League Play Begins

March 13: Lehigh 3, Navy 1

Navy opened Patriot League play with a 3-1 loss at Lehigh. The Midshipmen pitched well enough to win, but the offense did not create enough traffic. Navy’s conference start showed how thin the margin would be in league play.

March 14: Navy 3, Lehigh 0

Navy answered with a 3-0 shutout. The pitching staff delivered exactly what the team needed. The win evened the series and showed that Navy could lean on run prevention when the offense had an average day.

March 15: Lehigh 3, Navy 1

Lehigh took the series with another 3-1 win. Navy lost two low-scoring games by the same score in the opening league weekend. The Midshipmen left Bethlehem at 1-2 in the league and with work to do offensively.

March 18: Navy 9, Maine 8

Navy returned home and beat Maine 9-8. The Midshipmen needed the offense to carry them and did enough to survive. The win kept Navy from slipping after the Lehigh series loss.

March 21: Bucknell 7, Navy 3

Bucknell took the first meeting of the season 7-3 in Annapolis. The result mattered later because Bucknell became one of Navy’s biggest roadblocks. Navy did not match Bucknell’s run production in the opener.

March 21: Navy 8, Bucknell 3

Navy responded with an 8-3 win in the second game of the doubleheader. The Midshipmen balanced the weekend and showed they could handle Bucknell when the lineup put pressure on the Bison staff.

March 22: Bucknell 3, Navy 1

Bucknell took the series with a 3-1 win. Navy again ran into problems scoring in a tight game. That theme would return later in the postseason.

March 24: Saint Joseph’s 3, Navy 2, 10 innings

Navy lost a 10-inning midweek game to Saint Joseph’s. The 3-2 loss added to a frustrating stretch of close defeats. Navy’s pitching kept the team close, but the offense could not find the late hit it needed.

March 27: Army 5, Navy 4, 10 innings

Army beat Navy 5-4 in 10 innings to open the Star Series weekend. Losing a one-run extra-inning game to Army always stings. Navy played close, but Army made the decisive play.

March 28: Navy 5, Army 2

Navy answered with a 5-2 win at West Point. The victory gave the Midshipmen a strong response in the rivalry series. Navy’s pitching settled in, and the lineup did enough to even the weekend.

March 29: Army 4, Navy 3

Army won the series finale 4-3. Navy dropped another one-run game and left West Point with a series loss. The Midshipmen were competitive, but Army controlled the rivalry weekend.

April Surge

April 4: Navy 8, Lehigh 0

Navy started April with one of its best league performances. The Midshipmen shut out Lehigh 8-0 in Annapolis. Navy’s pitching dominated, and the offense gave the staff a comfortable lead.

April 4: Navy 8, Lehigh 3

Navy completed the doubleheader sweep with another strong offensive game. The 8-3 win gave the Midshipmen two straight over Lehigh and helped offset the early conference series loss in Bethlehem.

April 5: Lehigh 11, Navy 6

Lehigh avoided the sweep with an 11-6 win. Navy still took the series, but the finale showed the pitching staff could have occasional rough days. The Midshipmen left the weekend with a winning result.

April 8: Maryland 15, Navy 2

Maryland beat Navy 15-2 in eight innings. The Terps overpowered the Midshipmen in a local matchup. Navy did not get the midweek test it wanted, but the loss did not derail the season.

April 10: Navy 9, Lafayette 1

Navy responded with a 9-1 win over Lafayette. The Midshipmen opened the series with strong pitching and enough offense to control the game. This weekend became one of the best stretches of Navy’s season.

April 11: Navy 7, Lafayette 1

Navy kept rolling with a 7-1 win. The Midshipmen again limited Lafayette’s offense and built a lead. This was Navy baseball at its best: pitching, defense, pressure and timely hitting.

April 11: Navy 1, Lafayette 0, 11 innings

Navy won a classic pitcher’s duel 1-0 in 11 innings. The victory showed the strength of the staff and the team’s ability to grind through a game when offense was hard to find. It was one of Navy’s toughest wins of the season.

April 12: Navy 10, Lafayette 9

Navy completed the four-game sweep with a 10-9 win. The finale looked nothing like the 1-0 game the day before, but the result was the same. The Midshipmen won with offense and finished a dominant Patriot League weekend.

April 14: George Washington 4, Navy 1

George Washington slowed Navy down with a 4-1 win in Arlington, Virginia. Navy’s offense struggled again in a midweek game. The loss ended the winning streak, but Navy quickly turned back to league play.

April 17: Navy 3, Holy Cross 2

Navy opened a four-game road series at Holy Cross with a 3-2 win. The Midshipmen beat the eventual Patriot League champion in a close game. That result aged well because Holy Cross later won the tournament.

April 17: Navy 10, Holy Cross 4

Navy made it two wins in one day with a 10-4 victory. The offense broke through, and the Midshipmen put themselves in position for a huge weekend.

April 18: Navy 9, Holy Cross 5

Navy won again, beating Holy Cross 9-5. The Midshipmen guaranteed the series win and continued one of their best conference runs of the season.

April 18: Navy 10, Holy Cross 5

Navy completed a four-game sweep with a 10-5 win. Sweeping Holy Cross on the road became one of Navy’s best accomplishments of the season. The Midshipmen outplayed the eventual league champion across the entire weekend.

April 22: Navy 7, Maryland Eastern Shore 3

Navy returned home and beat Maryland Eastern Shore 7-3. The Midshipmen handled a local opponent and kept momentum rolling after the Holy Cross sweep.

Final Regular-Season Push

April 26: Navy 9, Bucknell 4

Navy opened the road series at Bucknell with a 9-4 win. The victory mattered because Bucknell was fighting near the top of the league standings. Navy’s offense produced enough to win comfortably.

April 26: Navy 5, Bucknell 3

Navy swept the doubleheader with a 5-3 win. The Midshipmen beat Bucknell twice in one day and looked like a serious championship threat.

April 27: Bucknell 5, Navy 4, 13 innings

Bucknell avoided the sweep with a 5-4 win in 13 innings. The loss hurt because Navy had a chance to make a major statement. Instead, Bucknell found a way to win a long game that helped shape the top of the Patriot League standings.

May 2: Army 5, Navy 4, 13 innings

Army beat Navy 5-4 in 13 innings in Annapolis. It was another long, painful rivalry loss. Navy had several close games against Army during the season but could not consistently finish them.

May 3: Navy 7, Army 4

Navy answered with a 7-4 win. The Midshipmen avoided letting Army control the entire weekend and gave themselves a needed victory late in the regular season.

May 3: Army 16, Navy 4, 7 innings

Army closed the regular season with a 16-4 win in seven innings. The loss was one of Navy’s worst of the year and sent the Midshipmen into the Patriot League tournament on a rough note.

Patriot League Tournament

May 10: Bucknell 16, Navy 4

Navy opened the Patriot League semifinal series with a 16-4 loss at Bucknell. The Bison scored 16 runs on 17 hits and took control of the best-of-three series. Jake Hooten homered for Navy, but the Midshipmen could not slow Bucknell’s offense.

The loss put Navy in a difficult spot right away. Bendik took the loss, and Bucknell grabbed the momentum.

May 11: Bucknell 6, Navy 4

Navy’s season ended one day later with a 6-4 loss. The Midshipmen scored first, but Bucknell answered with five runs between the third and fourth innings. Navy pushed back with three runs in the sixth but could not finish the comeback.

Klug had an RBI and scored twice, while Walsh and Andrew Manning added RBI singles. Bucknell held on, swept the series and advanced to the Patriot League championship series. Navy finished 30-19.

What Went Right

Navy’s pitching was the biggest strength. Bendik and Archibald gave the Midshipmen one of the best one-two punches in the Patriot League. Grenn added quality innings, and the bullpen had enough useful pieces to keep Navy in games.

The young offensive core also gave Navy a major boost. Cripe and Walsh played like building blocks. Klug, Izquierdo and Brown gave the lineup balance. Navy’s speed changed games, as the Midshipmen stole 132 bases.

Navy also proved it could beat top league opponents. The Midshipmen swept Holy Cross on the road, won two games at Bucknell in late April and handled Lafayette with a four-game sweep. Those results showed Navy’s ceiling.

What Held Navy Back

Close losses hurt Navy’s final standing. The Midshipmen lost extra-inning games to Saint Joseph’s, Army and Bucknell. Navy also dropped several low-scoring games when the pitching staff did enough to win.

The offense had stretches where it disappeared. Navy scored one run in losses to Queens, Dartmouth, Lehigh twice, Bucknell and George Washington. Against Bucknell in the postseason, Navy scored eight total runs in two games while allowing 22.

The defense and bullpen were good enough for a 30-win season, but Navy needed cleaner late-game execution to win the Patriot League. The Midshipmen were close, but Bucknell and Army took too many key close games.

Final Grade: B+

Navy’s 2026 season deserves a strong grade. The Midshipmen won 30 games, finished above .600 overall, posted a winning Patriot League record and produced the league’s Pitcher of the Year. Seven All-Patriot League selections showed the depth of talent on the roster.

The grade cannot climb into the A range because Navy did not reach the Patriot League championship series. A team with Bendik, Archibald, Cripe, Klug, Walsh and Izquierdo had enough talent to make a deeper run. The semifinal sweep was a disappointing ending.

Still, Navy baseball took a major step forward. The Midshipmen had high-end pitching, young offensive talent and a season full of quality wins. The 2026 season should be remembered as a strong year that set the bar higher for 2027.