Michigan Takes Weekend Series with 7-3 Win

Sunday, February 18

Port St. Lucie, Fla.

10 a.m.

Army West Point

1-2

Michigan

2-1

Army

Michigan

Michigan Takes Weekend Series with 7-3 Win

February 18, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The Army West Point baseball team fell 7-3 here Sunday afternoon in the series finale with Michigan.

It was a 1-1 ballgame until the Wolverines sparked a four-run fourth inning to break the contest open at 5-1. The Black Knights would notch one run back in the top of the seventh and ninth but two additional runs by the designated home team in the bottom of the seventh ultimately put the game out of reach.

Michigan tallied the game's first run in the opening inning after a two-out single brought home Jonathan Engelmann from second. The Black Knights responded in the top of the second after Matt Hudgins led off the inning with a single. Trey Martin converted on a sacrifice bunt to shift him to second before a groundout advanced him to third. Josh White then reached base on a throwing error during the next at bat to bring home the tying run.

The Wolverines used a big forth inning to record four runs, three earned, to break the deadlock and take a 5-1 advantage. Army would register one run back in the top of the seventh when Jacob Hurtubise knocked in Anthony Giachin from second thanks to a single to center field.

Unfortunately, the designated home team responded with two additional runs in the bottom half to create a 7-2 gap between the teams.

Army tried to rally in the ninth after Hurtubise reached base following a two-out error. During the ensuing at bat, pinch hitter Anfernee Crompton drilled his first career double to bring home the speedy sophomore from first. Crompton then shifted to third following a wild pitch before Jon Rosoff put runners on the corners after earning a walk. The Wolverines finally posted the final out of the inning, however, to halt the Cadets' chances of pulling even.

Sam Messina was tabbed with the loss after going 3.1 innings, allowing seven hits and five runs, four earned. Carter Van Gytenbeek came in for relief, giving up two runs on three hits in 3.1 innings of work. Joe Santoro and Matt Gray saw their first appearances of the year as well, combining to close out the final 1.1 innings. Neither allowed a hit during their time on the hill.

John McKenna and Hudgins both finished with two hits on the day to lead the Black Knights. Hurtubise and Crompton both registered an RBI, while Hurtubise, Hudgins and Giachin were all credited with a run.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Hurtubise, Rosoff, Giachin, Crompton, and Tim Simoes all posted hits in the game.
Jax Luzinski earned his first career start, while Gray made his first collegiate appearance.
Army's pitching staff struck out four batters, three of which came from the hands of Messina.
Sophomore Karl Kaufmann recorded the win after allowing just four hits and one run during his 6.0 innings of work.
Michigan turned the game's only double play.
The Wolverines saw catcher Harrison Salter finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run.

FACTS & FIGURES

Army compiled nine hits and three runs, while Michigan scattered 10 hits for seven runs.
Both teams committed errors throughout the game with the Cadets earning two and the Wolverines three.
Army stranded 10 runners on base to just eight for Michigan.

UP NEXT

Army will travel to Fordham on Wednesday for a midweek single game against the Rams beginning at 3 p.m.
The Black Knights will then remain on the road for another three-game weekend series at Maryland from Feb. 23-25.
Friday's contest is slated for 4 p.m. and Saturday's is set for 2 p.m. before the teams close out the set with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.