Black Knights Edged in Season Opener

Friday, February 16

Port St. Lucie, Fla.

2 p.m.

Army West Point

0-1

Michigan

1-0

Army West Point

Michigan

Black Knights Edged in Season Opener

February 16, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The Army West Point baseball team dropped a 12-6 decision Friday afternoon to Michigan on opening day of the 2018 season.

Michigan jumped in front after a three-run third inning before notching six more runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth to take a 9-0 advantage.

The Cadets finally got on the board in the top of the seventh when Matt Hudgins led off with a double down the left field line. Trey Martin advanced him to third before an Anthony Giachin groundout brought him home. During the next at bat, John McKenna followed in Hudgins' footsteps with a double to left field. Josh White then singled up the middle to bring the sophomore home.

Unfortunately, the designated home team tallied three runs back in the bottom half to create a 12-2 gap between the teams.

Army wasn't done yet though, notching four runs in the ninth to make things interesting late.

Martin started the inning reaching base on a fielding error. Giachin and McKenna then both walked on the ensuing at bats to load the bases. Michigan earned the first out of the inning but Anfernee Crompton notched the third walk of the frame to bring home Army's third run. After a pitching change, Jacob Hurtubise singled down the left field line to score Giachin and McKenna. Despite another walk that again loaded the bases UM was able to registered the final two outs of the inning to secure the win.

Tyler Giovinco was tabbed with the loss after allowing six hits and five runs in 4.1 innings of work. The junior tallied a game-high five strikeouts during his time on the hill. Jacob Carte came in for relief, pitching 1.2 innings giving up four runs on one hit.

Blake Walters and Harry Flannery Jr. closed out the final two innings. Walters went 0.2 innings and was created with three runs, one of which was earned. Flannery gave up just two hits in his 1.1 innings, the first appearance of his college career.

Four notched two hits each in Hudgins, McKenna, White and Drake Titus. Hurtubise accounted for two of Army's six RBIs, while rookies Brendan Siriani and Giachin posted the first of their careers.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

The Black Knights are now 2-8 in season openers in the last 10 years.
Hudgins drilled two doubles in the game, while McKenna registered one.
White led off the third with a triple to left field for the seventh of his career.
Michigan recorded two extra base hits with Ako Thomas earning a double and Hector Gutierrez launching his first long ball of the year.
Army's pitching staff combined to strike out nine batters, while Michigan fanned seven.
Hudgins was stranded on base a game-high four times.
Michigan turned two double plays, while the Cadets registered one.
Siriani, Giachin, Flannery Jr., Rob Regine, Tim Simoes, and Matt Gray all made their first collegiate appearances with Giachin and Simoes earning their first career starts.

FACTS & FIGURES

Army notched six runs on 10 hits, while Michigan posted 12 runs on nine hits.
The Black Knights finished with two errors in the game, while the home team posted one.
The Cadets left seventh runners on base. UM stranded 11.

UP NEXT

These two teams will face off again Saturday in the second game of this three-game series.
First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at First Data Field.
Live stats will be available.