Black Knights Fall to Villanova in Tuesday Matinee

Tuesday, May 2

West Point, N.Y.

3:30 p.m.

Army West Point

23-27

Villanova

11-25

Villanova

Army West Point

Black Knights Fall to Villanova in Tuesday Matinee

May 02, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point baseball team dropped an 8-3 decision to visiting Villanova here Tuesday afternoon.

The Wildcats shift to 11-25 on the year, while the Black Knights dip to 23-27.

Villanova jumped in front early after nearly back-to-back doubles by Tyler Bruno and JP Radvany in the opening half inning.

Army responded though in the bottom of the first to knot the score at 2-2. Jacob Hurtubise led off the inning getting hit by a pitch to place a runner on base. The rookie stole second before a Jon Rosoff single moved him to third. On that same play, Hurtubise continued toward home after the left fielder overthrew the catcher, allowing the Black Knights' first run to cross the plate. Rosoff advanced to second on the throw to keep a runner in scoring position.

The Wildcats then managed to register the first out of the inning but Matt Hudgins reached base on an error during the next at bat to put runners on the corners. Senior Alex Dickerson then converted on a sacrifice fly to bring home Rosoff and Army's second run.

Unfortunately, the Cadets gave up consecutive two-run home runs throughout second and third, both to left field, to create a 6-2 gap between the teams. Two additional runs then came in for the visitors in the fourth to ultimately put the game out of reach.

Army tried to rally and did manage to notch one run back in the bottom of the ninth when Trey Martin touched home following a Josh White single to center field but that would be all the Black Knights would earn.

Three cadet-athletes posted multiple hits on the day with White finishing a team-best 3-for-4 with an RBI. Martin and Rosoff also both registered two hits and one run each during their four at bats.

Daniel Gibbons was tabbed with loss for Army after giving up six hits, eight runs, seven of which were earned, and two walks in 3.1 innings of work. The junior did record a game-high four strikeouts though.

Carter Van Gytenbeek, Joe Santoro and Mike Gagliardi all came in for relief and combined to not allow a run over the final 5.2 innings. Van Gytenbeek was one strikeout shy of matching his career-best with four in the contest.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army finished with eight hits on the day but four came throughout the opening three innings and three in the final frame. The Black Knights managed just one hit between the middle five innings of play.
Each team had three athlete post multiple hits in the game.
The Black Knights notched one extra base hit and it came from the bat of White in the bottom of the fifth.
Villanova tallied three doubles on the day, two from Bruno, and two home runs for five total extra base hits.
Both teams swiped a bag with Hurtubise taking his team-best 15th of the season.
Army sent out four pitchers throughout the contest, while the Wildcats used just two.
Jake Esp was the winning pitcher after allowing just five hits and two runs, one earned, in 7.1 innings. Zach Lutner then came in to close out the final 1.2 innings, giving up three hits and one unearned run.
The Black Knight pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts, while Villanova's two-man group fanned four.
With his two hits in Tuesday's contest, Rosoff is still riding his hitting streak. His number currently sits at seven straight.
White worked his way out of his three-game slump with his three hits in the game.

LINEUP BREAKDOWN
     Hurtubise (CF): 1-for-4 with a run
     Rosoff (DH): 2-for-4 with a run and a walk
     McCarthy (LF): 0-for-2
          - Lee (LF): 0-for-2
     Hudgins (RF): 0-for-3 with a walk
     Dickerson (1B): 0-for-3 with an RBI
     Martin (3B): 2-for-4 with a run
     Monge (2B): 0-for-4
     Sarsen (C): 0-for-4
     White (SS): 3-for-4 with an RBI

   Gibbons (P): 3.1 innings, 6 hits, 8 runs, 7 earned runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts
        - Van Gytenbeek: 3.2 innings, 3 hits, 4 strikeouts
        - Santoro: 1.1 innings, 1 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
        - Gagliardi: 0.2 innings

FACTS & FIGURES

The Cadets scored three runs on eight hits, while the Wildcats earned eight runs on 10 hits.
Army tallied one error to four for Villanova.
The Black Knights left seven runners on base. Villanova stranded five.

UP NEXT

Army has a quick turnaround as it welcomes LIU Brooklyn on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on Doubleday Field.
Live stats, audio and video will be available at the start.