Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Towson
Towson Edges Army
February 28, 2014 | Baseball
Feb. 28, 2014
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Towson pushed across two runs in the eighth inning and held on to beat Army, 3-1, Friday in the opening game of the Campbell Classic at Jim Perry Stadium.
Army scored a single run in the eighth inning but fell to 4-3. The Black Knights will face host Campbell Saturday at 3 p.m.
Towson improved to 7-2 with the victory and will play Albany at noon on Saturday.
Army starting pitcher Alex Robinett allowed just two hits in seven-plus innings of work. He struck out eight and walked four while allowing two runs, one earned. Brian Hapeman came out of the bullpen and threw two innings. He allowed one run and struck out two.
Mark McCants and Ben Smith had hits for Army.
Towson struck first, pushing across a run in the top of the second inning on a run-scoring since by Hunter Bennett for a 1-0 advantage.
Army threatened in the bottom of the second. Daniel Cortes and Johnny Griffith walked with a single from Smith in between to load the bases. A foul out, though, ended the inning.
The Black Knights had runners on in the first when Jon Crucitti led off the game with a walk and stole second and in the fourth when Cortes walked but were unable to push a run across
Harold Earls walked in the fifth and Griffith reached on an error in the seventh in other Army opportunities.
Towson added a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning. A single to open the inning brought a pitching change as Hapeman entered for Robinett. Pat Fitzgerald singled in a run and a throwing error led to a 3-0 Towson lead
Army got on the scoreboard with a run in the eighth. Earls walked to start the inning and McCants singled. Brock Davidson worked a pinch-hit walk to load the bases and Cortes grounded out to score a run. Alex Jensen was hit by a pitch before a groundout ended the inning.
The Black Knights had an opportunity in the ninth when Earls reached on an error and stole second but a flyout ended the game.
Army will play its second of three games Saturday at 3 p.m. against host Campbell. Live stats and audio will be offered at http://www.gocamels.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/cuclassic2014.
GAME NOTES: Army freshman Johnny Griffith made his first career start ... Griffith was announced as the starting third baseman and junior Harold Earls started at second ... Towson leads the all-time series with Army 3-0.
