South Florida Earns Walk-Off to Steal Win

Sunday, March 18

Tampa, Fla.

1 p.m.

Army West Point

7-12

USF

15-6

Army West Point

Bulls

South Florida Earns Walk-Off to Steal Win

March 18, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. – The Army West Point baseball team was handed a 5-4 heartbreaking loss here Sunday afternoon at South Florida.

The Bulls scored the tying run after an error in the seventh before registering the game-winning hit with two outs in the final frame to earn the come-from-behind win.

USF started the game's scoring in the second inning when it notched three runs following back-to-back doubles.

Army responded with one run in the third and three runs in the fourth to jump in front 4-3. With two outs in the third inning, Josh White doubled to left field to place a runner in scoring position. Jon Rosoff then singled up the middle to bring home White, handing the Black Knights their first run of the game.

In the fourth, Matt Hudgins started the frame singling to center field. Trey Martin then reached on a fielder's choice to keep a runner on, but erased Hudgins from the base path. Anthony Giachin and Anfernee Crompton followed that up with consecutive singles to load the bases. Rookie Tim Simoes then clocked a single to center field to score two Army runs. The Bulls registered the second out the inning, but White brought home one final run with a single to left field during the ensuing at bat.

It remained a one-run Army lead for the next two-and-a-half innings until the Bulls recorded a game-tying unearned run.

Neither team scored in the eighth, which set up an exciting ninth inning.

Army tried to rally but couldn't muster anything in the top half. Fortunately for the home side, they recorded three hits, including the game-winning one, to seal the walk-off victory.

Sam Messina was tabbed with the loss after pitching 3.2 innings, allowing four hits and two runs, one of which was earned.

Matt Ball had a solid start for the Black Knights, giving up seven hits and three runs in 5.0 innings of work.

Both pitchers struck out multiple batters with Messina earning three and Ball notching a game-high five.

White, Rosoff and Hudgins all finished with two hits in the contest. White, Rosoff and Simoes (2) each registered an RBI, while White, Martin, Giachin and Crompton accounted for the four Army runs.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

The Black Knights compiled two extra base hits with doubles from White and Rosoff.
Simoes earned Army's lone walk in the game.
Three Bulls tallied multiple hits in the game, led by Coco Montes 3-for-4 performance.
Simoes reeled in two RBI for the second time in his career.
Rosoff has reached base in all 19 games for the Cadets.
The Durham, N.C., native also threw out two runners trying to steal. He now has eight on the year.
The Bulls used four pitchers in the contest.
The Black Knights knocked USF's starting pitcher out of the game after 3.2 innings. He gave up nine hits and four runs during his time on the hill.
Andrew Perez, the Bulls' closer, recorded the win after closing out the final 1.1 innings striking out all four batters he faced.

FACTS & FIGURES

Army finished with four runs on 10 hits, while USF earned five runs on 11.
The Cadets registered the game's only error in the seventh inning.
The Bulls left 11 baserunners on board, to just seven for the Black Knights.

UP NEXT

The Cadets kick off Patriot League play next weekend with doubleheaders against Bucknell and service-academy rival Navy.
Army first opens its league slate at Bucknell on Saturday with the twin bill beginning at noon.
The Black Knights will then hit the road for a neutral site doubleheader against Navy at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Md. Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and will be carried live on CBS Sports Network.