Army West Point Athletics
Army Primed For Regionals; Kick Off With N.C. State
May 31, 2018 | Baseball
WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army West Point baseball team claimed its Patriot-League leading eighth conference crown over rival Navy to punch its ticket to the NCAA tournament.
   The Black Knights enter the weekend having played in an NCAA Regional on six different occasions (2000 - Montclair Regional, 2004 - Baton Rouge Regional, 2005 - Tallahassee Regional, 2009 - Austin Regional, 2012 - Charlottesville Regional, and 2013 - Charlottesville Regional). The Cadets have never advanced past the regional round but came close in 2009 when they dropped a 14-10 decision to host Texas in the Austin Regional Final.Â
   The Black Knights kick things off Friday facing host N.C. State at 7 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park. Auburn and Northeastern are set to face offÂ
   Army is 3-12 in regional games, having earned wins over Boston College, South Alabama, and Texas State in the tournament. Ironically, the Black Knights and Auburn have been placed in the same regional before. The two teams squared off during the 2005 Tallahassee Regional with the Tigers notching a 12-3 victory.Â
   Leading the team is Patriot League Player of the Year Jon Rosoff, who boasts a conference-leading .351 batting average. The senior has also recorded 71 hits and 45 runs batted in, which are both good for second in the league.
   Josh White, Anthony Giachin and Drake Titus all follow closely, averaging .294, .293, and .293, respectively. Sophomore Jacob Hurtubise leads the nation in stolen bases with 40 so far on the season, while his 54 runs scored is tops on the team and fourth in Army's single-season records book.Â
   Tyler Giovinco has been Army's most consistent pitcher, earning a league-best eight wins on the year. The junior sits with a 3.39 ERA, three complete games and 76 strikeouts. Fellow classmate Daniel Burggraaf holds a team-low 2.34 ERA, while posting a record of 7-2 on the hill. The Belfair, Wash., native has three saves and 78 strikeouts to his name. Opponents are batting just .191 against the righty. Matt Ball has also been a consistent force for the Black Knights on the mound. The senior right hander has a season record of 7-2 with a 3.33 ERA. The Charlotte, N.C., native leads the team and is third in the conference with 88 strikeouts.Â
   The Cadets are currently riding a five-game winning streak, including a thrilling 8-7 victory over Columbia on Sunday in their final tuneup before the NCAA Tournament. Over the last 10 games, Army is 8-2 with their two losses coming at the hands of Lehigh (5-0) and Bucknell (4-1). Head coach Jim Foster has led the Black Knights to 36 wins already this season, a mark that sits tied with the 2009 squad for fourth-most in program history.
HOW TO FOLLOWÂ
Friday - Stats | Audio | Tickets | ESPN3
*Please check back to the Army West Point baseball schedule page for additional links for the weekend.*
Twitter • @ArmyWP_Baseball
Instagram • ArmyWP_Baseball
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1 vs. North Carolina State - LHP Tyler Giovinco vs. RHP Reid Johnston
*Additional game starters will be released at a later date.*
UP NEXT
- The Black Knights hope to continue their season in the NCAA Super Regionals, which are set to kick off June 8-11.Â
- The Cadets' have never advanced to the super regional round of the NCAA tournament.Â
- Army came close during the 2009 Austin Regional but dropped a 14-10 decision to host Texas in the regional final to finish in second place.
