Black Knights Earn Series Win with 3-0 Shutout

Saturday, February 24

College Park, Md.

4 p.m.

Army West Point

3-3

Maryland

2-4

Army West Point

Maryland

Black Knights Earn Series Win with 3-0 Shutout

February 24, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Army West Point baseball team recorded its second-straight victory over Big Ten foe Maryland here Saturday afternoon thanks to a 3-0 shutout.

The win marked the Cadets' third of the year, pulling them to .500 on the early season at 3-3.

Pitching was again the story for Army as it received 7.2 impressive innings from Matt Ball. The Charlotte, N.C., native allowed just four hits, while striking out seven during his time on the hill.

At one point throughout the game, the senior retired nine batters down in order to keep the Black Knights in front by two.

Junior Jacob Carte then closed things out, posting his first save of the season after not allowing a hit throughout the final 1.1 innings.

Army broke the scoreless deadlock in the top of the fourth when John McKenna reached base after being hit by a pitch. Matt Hudgins then followed that up doubling down the left field line to bring home McKenna from first.

The Cadets added its second run in the fifth when Tim Simoes reached base on an error by the catcher. Jacob Hurtubise singled on the ensuing play before they both shifted into scoring position on a wild pitch. Drake Titus then grounded out to bring Simoes across home plate.

Army added one final run in the seventh. Simoes led off the inning reaching base on yet another error, before advancing to second on the play. The Terps then recorded the inning's first two outs before intentionally walking Jon Rosoff to set up a force play. Fortunately for Army though John McKenna hit a bloop single to right field during the next at bat, which allowed Simoes enough time to touch home.

Hurtubise was the only Black Knight with multiple hits in the game after finishing 2-for-5 on the day. Titus, McKenna, and Hudgins each tallied an RBI, while McKenna and Simoes (2) accounted for all of Army's runs.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army improves to 3-2 in games against a Big Ten opponent during the 2018 campaign.
The Black Knights have won back-to-back games for the first time this year.
Hudgins recorded his 13th career double and fourth of the season.
Rosoff earned a game-high two walks.
Hurtubise and Titus each stole a base in the game for their fourth and first, respectively, of the season.
For the second-straight outing, the Cadets' pitching staff held the Terps to just four hits.
Tommy Gardiner was the lone Maryland player to register multiple hits on the day.
He finished with the Terps only extra base hit, following his double in the eighth.
Ball and Carte combined for nine strikeouts, while Tyler Blohm and Kevin Biondic recorded 10 for the home side.
Ball lowered his ERA to 1.54 this season after his impressive outing Saturday.

FACTS & FIGURES

Army finished with three runs on five hits, while Maryland earned just four hits.
Both teams committed errors in the game with the Black Knights posting one and the Terps two.
The Cadets left eight runners on base to just four for the home side.

UP NEXT

Army and Maryland will meet one last time in the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium.
The game will be carried live on the BTN Plus or fans can listen on the Maryland Baseball Network.