Late Game Rally Hands Army 5-2 Loss

Sunday, March 12

LakePoint Sporting Community, Emerson, Ga.

4 p.m.

Army West Point

4-10

Georgia State

9-7

Georgia State

Army West Point

Late Game Rally Hands Army 5-2 Loss

March 12, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

EMERSON, Ga. – The Army West Point baseball team fell here Sunday afternoon to Georgia State, 5-2, at Lakepoint Sporting Community.

The Black Knights saw the Panthers jump out to the 1-0 edge after the top of the second inning but the Cadets would answer in the bottom half thanks to squeeze bunt from senior David Monge. That hit turned into an infield single and allowed John McCarthy enough time to touch home plate, knotting the score at 1-1.

It was a battle throughout the next four-and-a-half innings, as neither team was able to break the deadlock. Army finally did so in the bottom of the seventh when the Black Knights sparked a two-out rally. Jon Rosoff reached on a throwing error late in the inning and Josh White was able to touch home for the 2-1 Cadets advantage.

Unfortunately, four unanswered runs from the Panthers over the next two innings ultimately handed the designated away team the victory.

Carter Van Gytenbeek had a solid outing in his first career start. The rookie allowed just two hits, one earned run, and five walks during his 5.0 innings of work. The Greenwood Village, Colo., native struck out a season high four batters while on the mound as well.

Logan Smith came in for relief and pitched an impressive two innings, posting a clean sheet, giving up just two walks. The rookie also fanned four batters of his own.

Drake Titus and Blake Walters then combined to close out the final two innings. Titus allowed four hits and three earned runs while registering the loss in the circle, before Walters gave up two hits and one earned run in his 1.1 innings of work.

McCarthy finished 2-for-2 on the day with a run scored. He was Army's lone player with multiple hits in the game.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Van Gytenbeek made his first career start but his fourth overall appearance on the mound for the Black Knights.
Smith has shifted his ERA down to 1.59, after earning a clean sheet in the sixth and seventh inning.
No Panther player finished with more than one hit on the day.
Army used four pitchers in the game, while Georgia State sent out five.
White is now tied with McCarthy for a team-best three stolen bases after swiping a bag in the game.
McCarthy, Tyler Giovinco, and Monge were all credited with sacrifice hits.
Army dips to 4-10 on the year, while Georgia State improves to 9-7.

LINEUP BREAKDOWN
     Rosoff (DH/C): 1-for-4
     Titus (3B/P): 0-for-3 with a walk
        - Walters (P): N/A
     Lindner (2B): 1-for-4
     McCarthy (LF): 2-for-2 with a run
     Hudgins (RF): 1-for-3
        - Hurtubise (CF): N/A
        - McKenna (PH): 0-for-1
        - Lee (RF): N/A
     Giovinco (1B): 1-for-3
     Monge (CF/RF) 1-for-3 with an RBI
     White (SS): 1-for-4 with a run
     Sarsen (C): 0-for-2
        - Saldivar (PH): 1-for-1
        - Crompton (3B): 0-for-1

     Van Gytenbeek (P): 5.0 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts
        - Smith: 2.0 innings, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts
        - Titus: 0.2 inning, 4 hits, 3 earned runs
        - Walters: 1.1 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 2 strikeouts

FACTS & FIGURES

The Black Knights compiled nine hits but just two runs. Georgia State finished with eight hits and five runs.
Army didn't have any errors, while the Panthers' recorded four.
Georgia State left 12 runners on base. The Cadets stranded six.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Panthers took the game's first lead after Terrell Frazier brought home Will Kilgore with a single through the right side in the top of the second inning.
Army wasted little time trailing though as the Black Knights knotted the score in the bottom half thanks to an infield bunt single by Monge. McCarthy started the inning getting hit by a pitch. Matt Hudgins followed that up singling through the right side to place runners on first and second. Giovinco then shifted them into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before Monge put down a great squeeze bunt, which turned into an infield single, to bring home the tying run.
Neither team was able to break the draw until the bottom of the seventh when Army was able to push one across home plate. Giovinco kicked off the inning singling up the middle. Monge shifted him over to second with a sacrifice bunt before White single through the left side. Giovinco was called out on White's hit after the Panthers' left fielder threw him out going to third. Baggio Saldivar then pinch hit and singled through the right side to place runners on first and second with two outs. Rosoff followed things up by reaching on a throwing error during the ensuing at bat to bring home White from second base.
Unfortunately, Army faced a tough eighth inning in which the Panthers tallied three big runs to create a 4-2 gap between the teams.
Georgia State then added an insurance run in the ninth after a two-out single to center field brought home Kilgore, who had doubled down the left field line two batters earlier.
Army was never able to recover.

UP NEXT

The Cadets next face Alabama State for two neutral site games beginning Tuesday at 6 p.m. The two teams will then wrap up with a 2 p.m. Wednesday contest. Both games will be played at the Lakepoint Sporting Community in Emerson, Ga.