Black Knights Postseason Bound after DH Sweep

Saturday, April 28

West Point, N.Y.

12 p.m.

Army West Point

24-18, 0

Holy Cross

15-18, 0

Holy Cross

Army West Point

Black Knights Postseason Bound after DH Sweep

April 28, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army West Point baseball team swept a doubleheader from Patriot League foe Holy Cross here Saturday afternoon.

Army took the opener 3-2 in seven innings before notching the 2-1 victory in the nightcap.

With the wins, Army clinched a spot in the upcoming Patriot League tournament. This marks the second-straight season under second-year head coach Jim Foster that the Black Knights have achieved this feat. The Cadets are currently in first with a conference mark of 13-5 with six league games remaining. Navy follows closely behind at 16-7 with just two conference games remaining.

Drake Titus led the Black Knights offense finishing 3-for-5 on the day with a double and a team-best three runs batted in.

Matt Hudgins, Anthony Giachin, and Jacob Hurtubise each notched two hits each, with Giachin and Hurtubise recording one RBI a piece.

Hurtubise earned a personal highlight in Game 1 when he stole his nation-leading 32nd base of the year. That mark broke Army's single-season record, which had stood since 2001.

In the opener, the Crusaders jumped on things early with an unearned run in the first half inning. The Black Knights responded though in the bottom of the frame after Giachin converted on a sacrifice fly to score Hurtubise from third.

The next inning, the visiting team pulled back in front at 2-1 following another unearned run.

But again the Cadets had an answer tying things up in the third inning. Anfernee Crompton reached base on a one-out error before advancing to second on the play. During the ensuing at bat, Hurtubise singled up the middle to bring home the tying score.

Then in the fourth John McKenna registered a one-out triple to right field to place a runner in scoring position. After a Hudgins walk put runners on the corners, the Crusaders notched the second out of the frame. Fortunately for Army, Titus drilled a single down the left field line during the next at bat to bring home McKenna for the go-ahead run.

Starting pitcher Tyler Giovinco then finished out the complete game for his sixth win of the year. The junior went the distance for the second time this season and allowed just seven hits and two unearned runs during his time on the hill. He also managed to fan eight while on the mound.

In Game 2, the Crusaders broke the pitcher's dual with an unearned run in the sixth inning.

For the third time on the day though, the Cadets responded with the tying and go-ahead runs in the bottom half after Titus blasted a double to center field. His hit scored Jon Rosoff and McKenna who had reached base earlier in the frame thanks to a single and a walk.

Army's starter Matt Ball pitched seven solid innings allowing four hits and only one unearned run. The senior righty struck out a season-high 10 batters during his time on the hill.

Jacob Carte came in for relief in the top of the eighth and posted two hitless innings to earn his team-leading fifth save of the year.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army posted two extra base hits on the day to just one for the Crusaders.
McKenna tallied his second triple of the year in the opener.
Hurtubise and Hudgins were both credited with a stolen base on the day.
The Black Knights pitching staff compiled 19 strikeouts compared to just 10 for the visitors.
Both of Army's starting pitchers threw over 100 pitches in their start.
All of Holy Cross' runs scored were unearned.

FACTS & FIGURES

Army posted five runs on 11 hits for the day, while Holy Cross registered three runs on 11 hits.
The Cadets were tabbed with four errors throughout the twin bill to just two for the Crusaders.
Both teams left 11 runners on base for the day.

UP NEXT

These two teams will wrap up the series finale on Sunday with one final doubleheader beginning at noon.
The game will be carried live on the Patriot League Network with Rich DeMarco on the call.