Black Knights Blank Broncos at CSUN

Saturday, February 16

Northridge, Calif.

3:30 PM ET (12:30 PM PT)

Army West Point

3-5

Santa Clara

0-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Santa Clara	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
Army West Point	0	1	3	2	0	2	8	10	0

Jolie Duong earned her first career shutout against Santa Clara on 2/16/2019

Black Knights Blank Broncos at CSUN

February 16, 2019 | Softball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – The Army West Point softball team picked up its first shutout victory of the season with an 8-0 win over Santa Clara in six innings on the second day of the CSUN Early Bird Classic Saturday.

The Black Knights snapped their four-game losing skid and improve to 3-5, while the Broncos slipped to 0-5.

Rookie Jolie Duong guided the Cadets from inside the circle, allowing just two hits and a walk in six innings of work in her first-career complete game shutout. The Houston, Texas, native was also one of three Army players with multiple hits, along with junior Emily Ballesteros and fellow rookie Madi Gilmore. Gilmore added a game-high four RBI, while Ballesteros and senior Izzy Gates each scored twice.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Black Knights struck first in the second inning when second-year Taylor Drayton laced a two-out double to left field that plated Taylor Livingston.
Army padded its lead the following frame when it added three runs on three hits and capitalized on an error by Santa Clara.
Duong opened the game by retiring the first 10 batters she faced before Regan Dias singled in the top of the fourth. She responded by setting down the next three hitters in order, including a strikeout to end the inning.
The Cadets scored two more runs in the next stanza to push their lead to 6-0 after a bases-loaded walk by Carrie Reilly and a bunt single by Gilmore.
Gilmore walked it off for the Black Knights with a two-run single in the sixth inning that plated Grace Mattimore and pinch runner Tessa Leman.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

This was the first-ever meeting between Army and Santa Clara.
Army collected its first mercy rule win and first shutout of the year.
Ballesteros documented her 100th career hit.
The Chino Hills, Calif., native extended her hitting streak to seven game.
Gilmore and Duong posted her second multi-hit efforts.
The Rosamond, Calif., native contributed Army's second four-RBI game of the season.
Duong earned the first complete game shutout of her career.

COACH'S CORNER
Interim Head Coach Bob Beretta – "I was very pleased with our effort today. You will win a lot of games when you pitch well and play solid defense, and that was the formula we used today. We did a nice job of jumping on top early and extending our lead throughout the game.

"Jolie Duong put forth a solid effort in the circle. It was nice to see her register her first career shutout. She was in complete command throughout the game and continued to perform well at the plate with a couple of hits. And I thought Izzy Gates had a strong day on both sides of the ball. She was active on offense and made a tremendous throw to nail a runner at the plate.

"I want to congratulate Emily Ballesteros on getting her 100th career hit. It's a nice accomplishment and we're very happy for her. It was nice to get back in the win column. Hopefully we come back with the same focus tomorrow. We're looking forward to getting back on the field and building on the positives from today."

UP NEXT

The Black Knights close out the CSUN Early Bird Classic with a pair of games against Santa Clara and CSU Bakersfield on Sunday. First pitch against the Matadors is slated for 1:15 p.m. ET, while the contest versus the Roadrunners is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. ET.