Softball Downs Bethune-Cookman 11-9

Saturday, February 7

Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

1:30 PM

Army West Point

1-3

Bethune-Cookman University

0-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Army West Point	3	0	0	3	0	0	0	5	0	11	12	2
Bethune-Cookman	0	3	1	0	2	0	0	3	X	9	10	3

Softball Downs Bethune-Cookman 11-9

February 07, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 7, 2015

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Freshman Emily Gray blasted a three-run triple to cap a five-run rally with two outs in the top of the eighth that snapped a 6-6 tie, and Kristen West nipped Bethune-Cookman's comeback in the home half as the Black Knights held on for an 11-9 victory over the Wildcats at the Charleston Challenge.

Army (2-1) jumped out to a 3-0 lead scoring on a two-run double by freshman Xiomara Perez, who crossed on a wild pitch. Bethune-Cook tied the score 3-3 in the bottom of the second and pulled in front with a single run in the third for a 4-3 lead.

The Black Knights snapped the tie with three runs in the in top of the fourth inning scoring on starting pitcher Aja Brechtel's double followed by Hailey Megge's and Casey McCravey's run scoring singles to pull ahead 6-4, but left a pair of runners in scoring position.

The Wildcats tied the score 6-6 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth collecting three of their six hits off Brechtel in that frame, but only three of their six runs off the freshman right-hander were earned.

West took over in relief in the sixth inning and held Bethune-Cookman to just one hit in that frame and retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to head into the eighth still tied at 6-6.

Due to time restraints, the international tie-breaking rule was applied in the eighth. In that scenario, the last runner to make an out in the previous inning is placed on second base.

Army exploded for five runs in the top of the eighth as it collected four of its 11 hits off Sabrina Anguiano in that frame to make a winner out of West.

The sophomore hurler helped her own cause by singling home the first run. McCravey doubled down the left field line to knock in pinch runner Gladys Esparza-Gallegos for the second with Gray's three-run triple proving the winning margin as Army pulled out to an 11-6 lead.

After Bethune-Cooked scored on an RBI double and pair of singles, West closed the door in stranding a pair of runners in scoring position in picking up her first win of the season to stand 1-1. She was touched for three runs, just one earned, over 3.0 innings of work.

It is the second game that Army collected 12 hits (had 12 in 9-7 edging of UNC Greensboro Friday). Gray (2-for-5), McCravey (2-for-4), Perez (2-5) and Brechtel (2-for-3) each collect two hits with McCravey and Perez driving in a pair of runs and scoring twice.

Army is batting .301 after three games with Perez and McCravey each hitting .455 collecting five hits in 11 at bats. McCravey has driven in five runs and Gray has four. Army has 19 RBI along with 24 runs scored.

Army takes on host Charlotte this evening at 8 p.m. at Patriots Point in closing out the second of the three-day tournament.