Ten Hits Lifts Baseball Over North Dakota State

Tuesday, March 15

Clearwater, FL

2 PM

Army West Point

6-9

North Dakota State

9-6

Army West Point

North Dakota State

Ten Hits Lifts Baseball Over North Dakota State

March 15, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Army West Point baseball team responded every time North Dakota State scored, doubling up the Bison 6-3 on Tuesday at Jack Russell Stadium.

"Kris's approach at the plate set the tone for us right out of the gate," said head coach Matt Reid. "He was so locked in at the start of the game. Their pitcher wasn't throwing very many strikes in warm ups, and his first to pitches weren't close. You would think after that that he would take another pitch, but he got a fastball and was right on it, fouling it straight back. Then Kris turned on a 3-1 ball and puts it off the wall for a double."

The scoring opened in the first inning when Army's (6-9) leadoff man, Kris Lindner, scored on a groundout by John McCarthy following his leadoff double to deep right field.

"John is such a competitor," Reid added. "He's a grinder; just your old-school, throw-back, blue-collar ball player. We've got a bunch of those guys, but he sets the tone with it. He's a tough guy to get out, and is a really competitive guy. He is what West Point is all about."

NDSU (9-6) tied the score in the home half of the opening frame. The Bison's leadoff man reach as well, prior to swiping second and scoring on a blooper down the left field line.

The Black Knights remained persistent, plating a pair to retake the lead. Right fielder Trey Martin had his first of three hits after Stu Schley battled through a seven-pitch at-bat to get the inning started. Keegan Vega singled to center, giving Army back-to-back hits before a wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position. First baseman Ryan Levenhagen brought in Martin with a groundout to the second baseman. On the following play, Brandon Lee beat out an infield single to score the sophomore catcher.

Freshman starter Daniel Burggraaf settled in after the first inning, allowing only the leadoff man to reach base in the following two frames. In that time, he struck out three Bison.

Army would add another run in the third, stretching the lead to 4-1, in the next inning. Lindner lead things off once again by reaching second on a single and a stolen base. Following a balk on an illegal pickoff move to second, Lindner moved 90-feet from scoring. McCarthy rifled the ball over the second baseman's head to score the junior shortstop.

North Dakota State made its push in the bottom of the fourth after a one-out, three-base error kick started its offense. Burggraaf was pulled thereafter due to a pre-determined pitch count. He was relieved by Jacob Carte who got off to a rocky start. He hit the batter with his first pitch of the game before surrendering an RBI single. Following a walk, a groundout to second base scored the Bison's second run of the inning, but their rally would end there as a strikeout got Carte out of the inning.

Carte was dialed in from that point on, striking out three over the next four innings. The freshman right-hander retired nine-straight from the end of the fourth to the middle of the seventh. After allowing an error and a hit to break the streak, McCarthy went a long way into the left center gap, tracking down a fly ball that would have scored two.

"Jacob was outstanding," commented Reid. "The way he came in and struggled at first, but then found it and just rolled. I was really proud of his effort today."

Army once again had a response for the Bison's offense with a couple runs of its own. Reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week Josh White sacrificed Lindner to second, after the Black Knights' one-hole hitter reached on his 10th hit by pitch of the season. A throwing error on the shortstop allowed Lindner to come around and score. McCarthy went first-to-third on an errant pickoff attempt rolled into foul territory down the right field line. Jon Rosoff scored McCarthy by putting the ball up the middle, conceding the out for the run.

From there, each team only had two runners reach scoring position. Carte made way for closer Justin French, who picked up his second save of the season, shutting down the Bison in order.

The Black Knights' next game will be on Thursday, March 15, when they open a four-game series against Harvard back at Jack Russell Stadium. Opening pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

For more information on Army West Point Baseball, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com and follow @ArmyWP_Baseball on twitter.

GAME NOTES: Army recorded 10 hits as a team for the fifth time this season … now three-straight games with double-digit hits … Kris Lindner and Trey Martin each had three hits in the game … first game since Lipscomb (Feb. 27) with multiple three-hit games … John McCarthy stretched his career-best hitting streak to 11 games … Lindner was hit by a pitch for a team-best 10th time this season … McCarthy recorded multiple RBIs for the sixth time this season and his third time driving in two … next closest is Matt Hudgins and Keegan Vega with two apiece.