Cadets Rally Late to Down Michigan, 4-3

Saturday, February 17

Port St. Lucie, Fla.

1 p.m.

Army West Point

1-1

Michigan

1-1

Army

Michigan

Cadets Rally Late to Down Michigan, 4-3

February 17, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The Army West Point baseball team earned its first win of the early season after taking down Michigan here Saturday afternoon, 4-3.

The Cadets held off a tough Wolverines squad that had the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth and ninth with a chance to register the tying or even go-ahead run. But Daniel Burggraaf came up clutch both times posting strikeouts to help Army secure the one-run win.

Michigan recorded the game's opening run in the third with a one-out solo shot to right field. The Wolverines then tacked on one additional run in the bottom of the fourth after a bases loaded two-out walk.

Army would not go away though, tying the game up in the top of the seventh. After Michigan notched the first out of the inning, Jacob Hurtubise reached base on a throwing error before advancing to second on the same play. Drake Titus was hit by a pitch on the ensuing at bat to place runners on first and second. The Wolverines then earned the second out of the frame but Hurtubise touched home on the play thanks to a passed ball. On the following at bat John McKenna tripled to right field to bring the tying run across home plate.

In the eighth, Josh White and Trey Martin teamed up to register the Cadets' go-ahead run. Martin led off the inning with a single to center field. A groundout shifted him to second before Michigan tallied the second out of the inning via a strikeout. White then followed that up singling to right field to score Martin from second.

The Wolverines made things interesting in the bottom half when they loaded the bases with two outs. After an Army pitching change, Burggraaf came in to register a key strikeout to strand the runners and keep the one-run lead intact.

The Black Knights added what they thought was an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Matt Hudgins brought home Jon Rosoff from second. The senior was hit by a pitch before advancing to second on a passed ball. Hudgins then clocked a single down the left field line to bring him across home plate.

Michigan would again make things risky for the Cadets when it sparked a small one-out rally. Following a double by Dominic Clementi, Jesse Franklin earned a walk. Burggraaf then fanned his second batter of the inning before loading the bases with another walk. During the ensuing at bat Christan Bullock singled to bring home what would eventually be the Wolverines' final run. Burggraaf settled down to strike out Jack Blomgren to preserve the win and earn his first save of the year.

Cam Opp recorded the win after coming in to pitch 3.2 innings of relief work. The junior allowed just four hits and two walks during his time on the hill. The Black Knights starting pitcher, Matt Ball, went 4.0 innings, giving up five hits and two walks. Burggraaf closed out the final 1.1 innings, allowing two hits and one run. All three of Army's pitchers in the game notched four strikeouts.

McKenna and Martin both finished 2-for-5 on the day, while McKenna, Hudgins and White all recorded an RBI.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army tied the weekend series up at 1-1 after Michigan took the opener Friday afternoon.
Titus, Rosoff, Hudgins, White and Anthony Giachin all recorded hits in the game.
Giachin tallied the Cadets' lone walk on the day.
Rosoff drilled his 30th career double, while McKenna and Giachin registered their first career triples.
McKenna also notched his second double in as many games.
The sophomore swiped Army's lone base as well.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Black Knights posted four runs on nine hits, while the Wolverines tallied three runs on 11 hits.
Michigan finished with the game's only errors (2).
Both teams left double digit runners on base with Army stranding 11 and Michigan 15.

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