Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Lafayette
Army Splits Second Day Twinbill With Lafayette
April 19, 2011 | Softball
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Easton, Pa. - Rachael Duval drove in three runs, along with a pair of RBI by Amanda Nguyen and Marina Northup, in support of Haley Pypes' five-hitter in Army's 14-4 five-inning first game win over Lafayette at Metzgar Fields. The Leopard rode Melissa Robinson's three-hit shutout in a 2-0 nightcap decision to gain a split in closing out the four-game Patriot League series Monday afternoon.
The Black Knights, taking three games from the Leopards, are 21-18 overall and 5-7 in the league to list fourth in the standings.
In the opening-game win, the Black Knights jumped out to a 6-0 first-inning lead. After Lafayette scored a pair of runs in the top of the second to cut Army's advantage to 6-2, the Black Knights put the game away behind an eight-run third inning explosion in pulling out to a commanding 14-2 lead. Army batted around in both of those innings en route to scoring a season-high 14 runs for the second straight day.
Army took advantage of five walks, a hit batsman and three hits to score six times in its first at-bat, along with chasing starter Emily Noel (0-5). With one out and bases loaded, Duval forced in the first run when she was hit by a pitch. Pypes' bases-loaded walk chased home the second run and the Army pitcher, who scored three times, was one of two runs to cross on Reanna Johnson's single up the middle following Marina Northup's sacrifice fly to center field.
Amanda Nguyen, who came around to bat for the second time in that inning, delivered Natalia Gruenbaum, who walked, with an infield hit off reliever Lauren Hanson in closing out the scoring.
The Leopards cut Army's lead to four runs (6-2) on Mary Episcopo's two-out double in the top of the second inning. Pypes (9-8), touched for two hits in that frame, along with a pair of walks and hit batsman, got out a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout looking.
The Black Knights sent 12 batters to the plate in the third inning scoring eight times after taking advantage of five hits along with a pair of errors and walks. A throwing error by the third baseman and RBI singles by Nguyen and Alex Reynolds, and April Ortenzo's fielder's choice groundout, scored the first run runs to open the floodgates. Duval knocked in two more with her two-out single to right field and scored on Northup's RBI single.
Pypes kept Lafayette in check over the next two frames stranding two runners in the third inning and three in the fourth in ending both threats on fly outs to left field. Lafayette scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth on Hanson's two-out home run to left field before a lineout to third baseman Clara Navarro forced the game to be called on the eight-run mercy rule. It was the second time Army won in five innings against the Leopards.
Army collected 10 hits in the win with Nguyen going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs batted in and a run scored.
Lafayette challenged in the first two innings of the nightcap, but came up empty against starter Shawna Bleyl. The junior right-hander left bases loaded in the second and stranded two runners in the first inning before the Leopards broke through in the third on a two-out bases-loaded walk. Bleyl prevented further damage on an infield popup in holding Lafayette to a 1-0 lead.
After yielding a leadoff single to Gwen Turner in the top of the top of the fourth inning, Bleyl gave way to Pypes, who pitched four strong innings throwing no-hit shutout ball, walkiing one and striking out another of the 13 batters she faced. Turner went on to move around on pair of wild pitches and padded Lafayette's lead to 2-0 when she scored on Stacey Kushner's sacrifice fly for the first out. With runners at first and second, Pypes ended the inning on a double play by Navarro.
Army was able to get into scoring position three times against Robinson, but each time she nipped the Black Knights' rally. After yielding back-to-back singles to Nguyen and Ortenzo in the bottom of the first, Robinson retired the side to end that threat with runners at second and third.
Northup drew the lone walk off Robinson to lead off the second, but was stranded as the Lafayette pitcher went on to retire 11 straight batters. Robinson was touched for her final hit when Johnson beat out a bunt with two outs in the fifth inning, then beat the throw to third on Nguyen's fielder's choice. Robinson went on to retire seven of the next eight batters she faced in earring her second win of the year.
Army returns to the Lehigh Valley next weekend for its final conference road trip when it takes on Leigh in a four-game series. The Mountain Hawks are in second place with an 8-3 mark.
DIAMOND NOTES: Army batted .317 in its four-game series with Lafayette ... Amanda Nguyen hit .692 (9-for-13) with four runs batted in and five runs scored ... Alex Reynodls batted .462 (6-for-13) with seven RBI and seven runs scored ... Rachael Duval and April Ortenzo batted .333 ... Duval drove in seven runs and Ortenzo knocked in five, and both scored five times.
