Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Davidson
Black Knights Bounce Back; Defeat Davidson, 10-6
February 19, 2011 | Baseball
Box Score
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Kevin McKague went 4-for-5 with a home run and three runs scored, then got the final two outs of the ninth inning to earn his 14th straight save as the Army baseball team recorded its first win of the season with a 10-6 victory over Davidson on Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field.
A day after being held to four runs on five hits against Radford in its season opener, Army exploded for 10 runs on 14 hits this afternoon. Zach Price helped jumpstart the Black Knights' attack out of the leadoff spot, going 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI. J.T. Watkins, meanwhile, did his share of damage at the bottom of the order as he collected three hits, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs.
Army led 10-4 as the game moved into the bottom of the ninth, but Davidson pulled to within 10-5 and loaded the bases against Black Knight relievers Andy Seaman and John Buckley. That prompted Army head coach Joe Sottolano to call upon the Black Knights' All-American closer to slam the door. McKague allowed one inherited runner to score as Forrest Brandt hit a sacrifice fly. Then, after an infield single by Seth Freeman reloaded the bases, McKague got Jack McLindon to hit into a fielder's choice to end the game.
Army (1-1) jumped on top 1-0 in the top of the second as McKague doubled to center field, advanced to third on Shaun Wixted's ground out and scored on Watkins' RBI double to left field.
The Black Knights manufactured a second run in the third inning to increase their lead to 2-0. Price began the frame with a leadoff single, was sacrificed to second by Steve May, advanced to third on a groundout by Clint Moore and scored on a wild pitch.
Army made it 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning as Watkins doubled to right field and scored on Price's RBI single to center.
Davidson (0-2) got one run back in the bottom of the fourth as Freeman laced a run-scoring single to left field. The Wildcats threatened for more, but left the bases loaded as Army starter Logan Lee retired McLindon on a fielder's choice to third base to end the rally.
Price started Army's next uprising in the top of the seventh as he doubled to lead off the frame. May laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him to third, and Moore hit a sacrifice fly to send Price to the plate and extend the Black Knights' lead to 4-1.
The Black Knights scored four unearned runs in the eighth inning to assume an 8-1 advantage. McKague led off the frame with a single to left field and he quickly stole second to move into scoring position. After Ben Koenigsfeld struck out, Cody Murtle pinch-hit for Wixted and reached on a Davidson error. Watkins then reached on an error as McKague and Murtle both scored. Price added an RBI single for the third run of the inning, and he plated the final run of the frame after stealing second and coming around to score as May reached on an error.
Davidson trimmed Army's lead to 8-4 by scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Freeman's RBI double capped the rally.
Army added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning on McKague's solo home run to left field and Watkins' RBI single.
Lee (1-0) was steady on the mound for the Black Knights in his season debut, scattering four hits over four innings of work. He struck out three, while yielding four walks and one earned run. Freshman Gunnar Carroll came on in relief to begin the fifth inning and tossed three scoreless innings before allowing three runs in the eighth.
Army returns to the diamond at Wilson Field later today (Feb. 19) when the Black Knights take on Radford in a rematch of Friday's season-opening contest. The first pitch for the nightcap is slated for 7 p.m.
Game Notes: Army improves to 1-2 all-time versus Davidson ... today's win marked the 300th career coaching victory for Army head coach Joe Sottolano ... freshman Brent Peterson made his Army debut today as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning ... his one inning of work was memorable as he singled, stole a base and scored Army's final run ... Peterson stayed in the game and finished the contest at first base after McKague took over on the mound ... McKague's home run was the 18th of his Army career, moving him into a tie with Joey Henshaw for sixth place on Army's all-time list ... McKague set a new career high with four hits and matched his career high with three runs scored ... Price established a new career high with four hits and equaled his career high with three runs scored ... Watkins matched his career best with three hits.
