Navy won a school-record 43 games last season, capturing both the Patriot League regular and postseason championships and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011.
The most obvious reason for Navy's sustained success in 2016 was the presence of left-handed starting pitcher Luke Gillingham. Gillingham logged 92 innings, easily the most on the team, while posting an 8-4 record and 2.35 ERA. Over his last two combined seasons, the two-time All-American and MLB draftee pitched over 175 innings, striking out 204 batters while winning 16 games.
Gillingham's graduation represents the most glaring loss for Navy, which opens the 2017 today with a doubleheader at North Carolina Central.