Milestone Achieved in Series Split with Syracuse

Wednesday, March 28

West Point, NY

2 PM

Army West Point

10-17

Syracuse

16-11

Syracuse

Army

Milestone Achieved in Series Split with Syracuse

March 28, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WEST POINT, N.Y. – History was made at the Army West Point Softball Complex when the softball team claimed a 5-1 victory in the second game of a doubleheader series with Syracuse on Wednesday afternoon.

The win against the Orange (16-12) marked the program's first-ever victory against an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent.

In the second game, Courtney Springman had herself a day, allowing just one earned run, four hits and striking out nine in a complete game effort for Army (11-17).

At the plate, Amelia Trotter compiled three hits in the two games combined, including a solo home run in the series opener. Taylor Livingston also recorded a hit in each of the contests.

GAME 1: SYRACUSE 4, ARMY 1

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Madison Bryant came on in relief and allowed just one hit in four scoreless frames.
Trotter blasted her second career homer.
Three different Cadets recorded a base hit in the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After both teams went scoreless in the opening frame, Syracuse came up to hit in the second and put four runs on the board. With the first two runners reaching base safely, back-to-back singles plated three before a two-out single brought in the fourth.
Bryant was called upon in relief at the start of the fourth with Army trailing 4-0 and she worked through three frames without giving up a single hit.
It remained a four-run game until the bottom of the sixth when Trotter dug into the box and belted the ball over the fence in deep center. That was all the Black Knights could manufacture off of the Orange ace, Alexa Romero, and Syracuse sealed the win in game one.

GAME 2: ARMY 5, SYRACUSE 1

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army defeated Syracuse for the first time in program history.
Springman made her 20th career appearance and 16th collegiate start.
It was the 11th career start in which she allowed two or fewer earned runs.
She pitched her 11th career complete game.
Springman got 11 of the 28 batters she faced to ground out.
Livingston tallied her 20th career hit.
Carrie Reilly and Trotter both recorded their 20th hits of the season.
Five different Cadets notched a base knock in the game.
Kristen McPeek posted her third two-bagger of the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Syracuse got on the board first after plating a run in the opening frame. However, Army countered in the second. Lacey Swafford was standing on first with two outs after reaching on a fielder's choice when McPeek roped an RBI double in the gap in left center to even the score.
In the third, things began to unfold for the Orange. Livingston and Trotter led off the inning with back-to-back singles and the bases were then loaded once Ballesteros was hit by a pitch. Drayton was due up next for Army and she hit a grounder to short. Syracuse tried to get the force out at the plate, but the throw sailed wide of the catcher's mitt, allowing two runs to cross.
The inning wasn't done there as another two runs were plated on the ensuing at-bat after another throwing miscue by the Orange.
From that point forward, Springman was completely in control and allowed just two Syracuse hitters to reach safely in the closing four frames en route to the Black Knight win.

UP NEXT

Army will resume league play this weekend and host Boston U. for a two-game set on Saturday scheduled for noon and 2 p.m. at West Point. The series will come to an end on Sunday at noon.