Seventh Inning Rally Fuels Army Past Quinnipiac

Friday, March 11

Clearwater, FL

2:15 PM

Army West Point

8-8

Quinnipiac

5-5

Army

Quinnipiac

Seventh Inning Rally Fuels Army Past Quinnipiac

March 11, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Down 6-5 heading into the seventh inning, the Army West Point softball team rallied for a comeback to defeat Quinnipiac 7-6 Friday afternoon. This is the first time the Black Knights have defeated the Bobcats in five season, the last time being in 2011.

Quinnipiac (5-5) took an early 2-0 lead over the Cadets (8-8) in the bottom of the first. Both teams were scoreless in the second inning allowing the Bobcats to maintain their 2-0 lead.

In the top of the third with two outs against them, the Black Knights were able to convert three runs. Alee Rashenskas stroked a one-run single to left field which pushed Gladys Esparza-Gallegos home. Emily Gray stepped up to back and singled down the right field for two RBI. Ashley Yoo and Kristen McPeek tallied the runs to give Army a 3-2 advantage.

The Bobcats rebounded quickly and took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third off two Army errors.

In the top of the fourth, the Black Knights scored two more runs to reclaim the lead at 5-4. Kasey McCravey struck out swinging, but reached first on a passed ball. During the play, Nena Riccoboni crossed the plate. Esparza-Gallegos had a sacrifice hit to right field which allowed Mae Wadyka to score.

The Black Knights denied Quinnipiac from scoring in the bottom of the fourth to maintain the 5-4 advantage. The Bobcats went three-up, three-down in the top of the fifth not allowing the Cadets to score.

Quinnipiac re-tied the score in the bottom of the fifth on a bunt and took a 6-5 lead in the sixth off an RBI single to left field.

Rashenskas was on the bags first for Army off a single to the third basemen. Gray reached on an error allowing Rashenskas to round the bases and tie the score at 6-all. Tyler McKinney then pinch ran for Gray and stole third. Maddie Kim singled to the pitcher and sent McKinney home for an RBI to clinch the game at 7-6.

The Bobcats was up to bat in the home half of the inning, but the Army defense denied them from a comeback. Quinnipiac reached first on a walk, but she was not able to advance into scoring position. On the next play, Rashenskas caught a pop fly before Esparza-Gallegos made a diving catch to give Army two outs. The Bobcats then flied out to right field to clinch the victory.

Renee Poirier earned the win in the circle for Army, the first of her career. Caroline Smith closed-out the game for the Black Knights to earn her first save of the year.

Gray had a team-leading three RBI, while Esparza-Gallegos, Rashenskas, and Kim each tallied one. Rashenskas notched a team-high three hits in the game and was followed by Wadyka (2), Gray (2) and Kim (2).

The Black Knights will face Wisconsin Green-Bay later Friday evening.

WISCONSIN GREEN BAY – Wisconsin Green Bay is 4-13 on the season with wins over South Dakota, Western Illinois, Loyola and Quinnipiac. The Black Knights lead the Phoenix 8-5 in the all-time series that dates back to 1994.

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