Power Surge Puts Army Past UMass-Lowell

Saturday, April 14

Lowell, MA

12 PM

Army West Point

17-21

UMass Lowell

12-19

Army

UMass Lowell

Power Surge Puts Army Past UMass-Lowell

April 14, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

LOWELL, Mass. – There was no shortage of power when the Army West Point softball team erupted for a combined 26 runs in a non-conference doubleheader series sweep over UMass-Lowell on Saturday afternoon at River View Field.

With 31 hits and 14 of them coming of the extra-base variety, the Black Knights (18-21) posted several eye-popping numbers at the plate against the River Hawks (12-20).

Army received a bevy of offensive production from a variety of spots in the lineup and as a team, compiled a .456 average. Carrie Reilly had herself a day as the cleanup hitter, batting 5-for-8 with two home runs, seven RBIs and four runs scored. Amelia Trotter also roped a pair of homers on the afternoon, going 4-for-7 at the dish in the two games combined with four RBIs and five runs scored.

Lacey Swafford also shined at the top of the order, going 7-for-8, including a perfect 4-for-4 in the second game, while driving in five runs and crossing the plate five times.

GAME 1: ARMY 6, UMASS-LOWELL 3

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

The Cadets recorded 10 hits, marking the first time since March 14 against Manhattan that the team reached double figures in a game.
Army's five two-baggers is tied for the most by a Patriot League team this season.
The five doubles were the most by an Army team since April 8, 2017 when the Cadets tallied six against Lafayette.
Army recorded a season-best seven extra-base hits.
The Black Knights hit two homers in a game for the second time this year.
Courtney Springman picked up her 11th collegiate win in her 15th career complete game.
For the 17th straight start, the freshman allowed three or fewer earned runs.
Trotter tallied her 30th hit and fifth two-bagger of the season.
Swafford hit her first career home run.
Emily Ballesteros notched her 15th career double.
Reilly recorded her second career home run and second of the season.
She extended her hitting streak to seven games.
Her three RBIs was a career high.
Katie Ontiveros hit her first double of the season and fifth of her career.
Julia Wyatt stole her fifth collegiate base.
Army forced UMass-Lowell to leave 13 runners stranded.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trotter was in the leadoff spot and after being behind in the count, shot a ball into the gap in left center for a double to get the game started. Swafford then came up and drove in her classmate with an RBI single up the middle.
In the home half of the first, the River Hawks made Springman work in the circle. With runners on the corners and one out, UMass-Lowell sent the baserunner at first in motion. While attempting to catch the runner stealing, the ball sailed into the outfield and the game-tying run was plated.
The game did not remain tied for long as Army experienced a surge of power at the plate in the third inning with two outs. Swafford was in the batter's box and belted a ball to left center for a solo home run, the first of her career. Ballesteros followed with a double and came in to score once Reilly rocketed a 1-2 pitch over the fence in right center for a two-run blast.
Trailing 4-1, the River Hawks responded in the bottom half of the third. After the first two batters reached safely, a fielding error permitted a run to cross and the Army lead was cut to two. UMass-Lowell continued to apply the pressure and an RBI single plated another run.
Leading 4-3 in the fourth, Army put two in scoring position with no outs after back-to-back doubles by Ontiveros and Izzy Gates. After the first out of the inning was recorded, Taylor Livingston grounded out to the right side of the infield, but Ontiveros scampered home on the play.
The Black Knights went on to tack on an insurance run in the seventh. Ballesteros drew a one-out walk and Wyatt came in to pinch run. After stealing second, Wyatt crossed the plate on a Reilly RBI single through the left side.
Needing to make up three runs to extend the game, the River Hawks put two runners in scoring position, but Springman worked out of trouble to secure the 6-3 victory for Army.

GAME 2: ARMY 20, UMASS-LOWELL 8

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army captured its fourth straight win and third straight against UMass-Lowell.
The Cadets set season-highs in at-bats (37), runs scored (20), hits (21), RBIs (20), doubles (5) and home runs (5).
The five Black Knight home runs tied a Division I program record.
The five dingers also tied the most by a Patriot League team this season.
The 20 runs scored were the most by an Army team since March 28, 2012 when the Cadets plated 21 against Saint Peter's.
Trotter recorded her third homer this season and fourth of her career.
Her four RBIs and four runs scored were both career bests.
She went 3-for-3 at the plate, marking her third-career three-hit outing.
Swafford recorded four hits in a game for the second time in her career.
She tied her career high with three RBIs and set a career mark in runs scored with four.
Reilly tallied a home run for the second straight game and now has three in her career.
She extended her hitting streak to eight games.
Reilly's four RBIs and three runs scored were both career highs.
McPeek hit her first homer of the season and third of her career.
She tied her career-high in RBIs with four.
Megan Muffet hit her first career home run.
Taylor Drayton tallied the first three-hit game of her career.
Ballesteros crossed home a career-best three times.

HOW IT HAPPENED

For the second time in the series, it was the Black Knights jumping out to an early lead. On the second pitch of the game, Trotter launched a ball to deep left for a solo home run. Swafford doubled during the ensuing at-bat and advanced to third after an error on the play. Despite the following two Army batters being retired in order, another run scored once Reilly singled to right.
Trailing 3-0, the River Hawks countered immediately with three runs of their own off of three hits in the bottom of the first.
In the top of the second, Livingston and Trotter notched back-to-back one-out singles before Swafford drove them both in on a two-RBI base knock. Swafford moved over to second after a Ballesteros base on balls and the two then advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Reilly then stepped into the batter's box and lifted a ball over the fence in deep center for a three-run homer to give Army an 8-3 advantage.
UMass-Lowell trimmed the deficit to three, 8-5, after a pair of runs in the second, but Army erupted in the third and began to pull away.
Muffett led off for the Black Knights with a solo shot to center. After the first out was recorded, Trotter was walked, stole second, and scored on a Swafford RBI single to left center. Ballesteros followed with a base knock of her own before the River Hawks picked up the second out of the frame.
With Swafford and Ballesteros both in scoring position after a passed ball, McPeek took the first pitch that she saw and put it over the fence in left for a three-run blast. The inning finally came to a close, but the five runs on four hits gave the Cadets a 13-5 lead.
The River Hawks plated a run in the bottom of the third, but once again, the Black Knights' offense caught fire.
In the fourth, Gates and Livingston were in scoring position when Trotter launched a ball to deep left for a three-RBI dinger. The Cadets then rattled off six consecutive singles, resulting in four additional runs.
Army carried a 20-6 lead into the fifth and despite the River Hawks scoring twice, the Black Knights closed things out to seal the win.

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