Army Drops Opener After Late-Game Rally

Friday, February 17

Baton Rouge, La.

1 p.m. ET

Army West Point

0-1

Air Force

1-0

Army West Point

Air Force

Army Drops Opener After Late-Game Rally

February 17, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

Baton Rouge, La. – The Army West Point baseball team dropped a tough 8-7 decision to service-academy rival Air Force in its season opener here Friday.

The Black Knights saw the Falcons rally in the bottom of the eighth inning to ultimately steal the neutral site victory. Friday's contest took place at LSU's Alex Box Stadium.

Air Force jumped in front early after scoring two runs in the opening inning following a home run by Tyler Jones. Army responded with three scores in the top of the third to take over the lead at 3-2. That inning was highlighted by doubles from Josh White and Jon Rosoff.

The Falcons knotted the score in the fifth after smacking another long ball over the left field fence. Army would not waiver though, scoring three big runs in the top of the sixth to pull back on top at 6-3. Alex Dickerson scored one of those runs after David Monge earned a bases-loaded walk. Senior Kris Lindner followed that up with a huge double to right field to bring home Tyler Giovinco and Anfernee Crompton.

Air Force slowly started to chip away at the deficit beginning with Ashton Easley's solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Then in the seventh, Easley came up with another big hit after registering a two-out single up the middle. That dinger allowed Bradley Haslam to touch home place, pulling the Falcons to within 6-5.

Easley continued his strong play in the bottom of the ninth when he helped spark a three-run rally, lifting Air Force to the 8-6 advantage.

Army tried to string together a late rally of its own in the top of the ninth after back-to-back singles by Rosoff and Dickerson, but the Cadets were only able to notch one of the needed two runs to pull even.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES
• The Black Knights are now 2-8 in season openers in the last 10 years.
• Jacob Hurtubise, Drake Titus, and Crompton all saw action in their first collegiate games.

LINEUP BREAKDOWN
     Hurtubise (CF): 1-for-1 with a walk and a sacrifice bunt
        - Monge (PH/CF): 0-for-1 with an RBI and walk
     Lindner (2B): 1-for-4 with 2 RBI, a run and a walk
     Hudgins (RF): 0-for-4 with a walk
     McCarthy (LF): 1-for-5 with a run
     Rosoff (C): 2-for-5 with 3 RBI
     Dickerson (DH): 1-for-3 with a run and a walk
        - Lee (PR): N/A
     Giovinco (1B): 1-for-4 with a run
     Crompton (3B): 0-for-3 with a run and a walk
     White (SS): 1-for-4 with a run

     Mortensen (P): 4.2 innings, 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts
        - Messina: 2.0 innings, 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
        - Carte: 1.0 innings, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
        - Titus: 0.1 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout

FACTS & FIGURES
• Army finished with eight hits and one error. Air Force compiled seven hits and one error.
• Both teams left multiple runners on base with the Black Knights stranding nine and the Falcons leaving 11.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons jumped out to the early 2-0 edge after a one-out two-run homer to left field in the bottom half of the opening inning.
• Army answered with a big third inning to pull in front 3-2. White doubled to start off before Hurtubise shifted him to third with a sacrifice bunt. On the ensuring play, White scored Army's first run following a wild pitch.
• Air Force recorded the inning's second out but Matt Hudgins and John McCarthy earned a walk and a single, respectively, to place runners on first and second. During the next at bat, Rosoff smashed a double to right field to bring in both runners.
• The Falcons knotted the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth following another home run to left field.
• The Black Knights wasted little time being tied though as they notched another solid three-run sixth inning. Rosoff started things off by reaching on a throwing error by the pitcher before advancing to second on the same play.
• Dickerson and Giovinco were hit by pitches on the next two at bats to load the bases. The Falcons then recorded the first out of the inning after picking off Rosoff at third. During the ensuing at bat, Crompton earned a walk to again fill the bases.
• Air Force then posted the second out of the inning. After that, Monge stepped in to earn a pinch hit walk to bring in the Black Knights' first run of the inning. During the next at bat, Lindner drilled a double to right field to bring home Giovinco and Crompton for two more runs.
• The Falcons tallied a run in the bottom half of the sixth and seventh before scoring three more in the eighth to jump back in front at 8-6.
• Army tried to answer and even recorded a run in the top of the ninth but weren't able to make the full comeback.

UP NEXT
• The Black Knights have a quick turnaround as they now travel to New Orleans to face #33 Tulane in the nightcap of an opening day doubleheader. That contest is slated for 6:30 p.m. Central Time (7:30 ET) and will be streamed live through Tulane's website at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.