Black Knights Split Pair of Games in Clearwater

Friday, March 16

Clearwater, FL

11:30 AM

Army West Point

5-13

Quinnipiac

6-11

Quinnipiac

Army

Black Knights Split Pair of Games in Clearwater

March 16, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLEARWATER, Fla. – After falling to Quinnipiac 2-0, the Army West Point softball team bounced back to claim a 6-5 victory over Butler on Friday afternoon at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.

Lacey Swafford picked up a pair of hits in each of the games, going a combined 4-for-8. Taylor Livingston also tallied four hits on the afternoon, while crossing the plate four times. Three other Cadets (6-13) recorded a hit in both contests.

In the circle, Courtney Springman went the distance against the Bobcats (6-11), allowing just one earned run on five hits. Army then used three different pitchers to get past the Bulldogs (8-14), including Macey Newbary, who got the starting nod. She went five innings and gave up one earned run before the bullpen took over and closed the game out.

GAME 1: QUINNIPIAC 2, ARMY 0

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Swafford extended her hitting streak to four games and posted back-to-back multi-hit games.
Emily Ballesteros tallied a base hit for the third straight outing.
Springman pitched a complete game for the sixth time in her career.
She fanned a career-best eight batters.
It was the sixth straight start that she allowed two or fewer earned runs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The two sides went scoreless for a combined one hit in the opening two frames until Quinnipiac got on the board in the third. It started with a leadoff single and she found herself on third after a groundout and a passed ball. With two outs in the inning, a costly Army fielding error allowed the run to score.
In the fifth, the Bobcats tacked on an insurance run. A two-out single resulted in a score after the runner was brought in to score on an RBI double to right.
Trailing 2-0, Army loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame with two outs, but could not manufacture a run. The Black Knights were unable to place any additional runners in scoring position for the remainder of the contest, ultimately falling 2-0.

GAME 2: ARMY 6, BUTLER 5

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Livingston tallied her fourth multi-hit game of the season.
It was the first time in her career that she recorded three hits in a single game.
Renee Poirier picked up her second win of the season.
Springman recorded her first collegiate save.
Six different Cadets had an RBI in the game.
Grace Mattimore walked three times.
Swafford extended her hitting streak to five games and has recorded three consecutive multi-hit performances.
Ballesteros had a hit in the fourth straight contest.
Army left 10 runners on base.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Army went into the third inning trailing 2-0 after Butler put a pair of runs on the board in the opening frame. However, Livingston led off with a single up the middle and made her way over to second on a Swafford base hit. The Black Knights attempted to push the runners over with no outs on a sacrifice bunt by Carrie Reilly, but she made it to first safely on the play. With the bases loaded, Ballesteros came through with an RBI single and the Butler lead was trimmed to one, 2-1.
It remained a one-run game until the fourth, when the Bulldogs tacked on another run. The Cadets had an answer and once again it was Livingston getting things started with a single to left center to lead off the fifth. After moving over to second on a passed ball and tagging to third on a fly out to deep center, she scored on a Reilly RBI single.
Trailing 3-2 entering the sixth with two outs, the Black Knights had a pair of runners in scoring position. Livingston dug into the box and shot an RBI infield single to the right side to even the score. Swafford then drew a base on balls before a wild pitch permitted another run to cross to give Army a 4-3 advantage.
The Cadets extended their lead to three, 6-3, after a pair of two-out runs in the seventh. Butler came up to hit for a final time and put two runs on the board to make it a one-run game once again. With two outs and one runner on, Springman was called upon in relief with two outs and secured the victory.

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