Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
8-7
Ohio
3-12
Timely Hitting Leads to Series-Opening Win
March 15, 2019 | Baseball
ATHENS, Ohio - The Army West Point baseball team kicked off its weekend series at Ohio with an 8-6 victory here Friday afternoon.
Every cadet-athlete in the Black Knights' lineup registered at least one hit in the game, with three notching three hits each.
Brendan Siriani finished 3-for-4 with one run batted in and two runs scored, while Drake Titus went 3-for-6 and accounted for one RBI and one run. Andre Walden added three hits as well as an RBI in the top of the sixth inning.
The Black Knights also saw its starter Tyler Giovinco go seven innings. The senior lefty allowed nine hits, four runs and three walks in his third win of the year. The Las Vegas, Nev., native also matched his season-best with seven strikeouts.
The Black Knights jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings but the home side answered in the third to take over the advantage at 4-3. Army responded quickly scoring five runs over the next three frames to create an 8-4 gap between the teams. Despite giving up two runs in the eighth, the Cadets were able to hold on for their eighth win of the season.
ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES
- Trey Martin chipped in two hits, while Josh White accounted for two of Army's final eight runs.
- John McKenna led the team with two RBI and now sits with 10 on the year.
- The Black Knights posted five extra base hits in the game, including Anthony Giachin's fourth triple of his career.
- Army registered four doubles, which tied its season-high.
- Martin and Siriani both converted on a sacrifice bunt, while Jacob Hurtubise recorded an RBI-sacrifice fly.
- Jacob Carte, Matt LePoint and Cam Opp all saw action on the mound.
- Opp earned the first save of his senior season after closing out the final 1.2 innings allowing just one walk. The London, England, native also posted two strikeouts.
- Army's four-man pitching staff compiled nine strikeouts to only five for the Bobcats.
- Ohio was forced to use six pitchers in the game.
- The Black Knights limited the Bobcats to just one extra base hit.
How It Happened
- Army started the scoring in the opening half inning when Titus, Giachin and McKenna posted three-consecutive hits. McKenna and Giachin both registered an RBI during the frame to hand the Cadets a 2-0 advantage.
- The Black Knights added on in the second when Hurtubise converted on a sacrifice fly to score White from third. White and Martin notched back-to-back singles before a Siriani sacrifice bunt shifted them both into scoring position. Hurtubise followed suit during the next at bat with his sac fly.
- Ohio responded in the third when it registered four runs on four hits and one error to take over the lead at 4-3. The Bobcats tallied three-straight hits during the rally.
- Army wasted little time trailing as it tallied two runs on two hits in the fourth to pull back in front at 5-4. White led-off the frame getting hit by a pitch. A Martin sacrifice bunt shifted him to second before Siriani notched an RBI-single to right field. The Bobcats recorded the second out of the inning after a groundout but Titus drilled a double to left field during the ensuing at bat to score Siriani from second.
- The Black Knights tacked on another run in the fifth when Jeremiah Adams doubled to left field to score McKenna.
- Army made it an 8-4 ballgame with two more runs in the sixth. Siriani, Hurtubise and Titus each singled to load the bases with no outs. After a pitching change the Bobcats tallied the first out of the frame. McKenna then earned an RBI-walk to keep the bases full. During the next at bat Walden reached on a fielder's choice but not before Hurtubise touched home plate.
- The Bobcats wouldn't go away though scoring two runs on two hits in the bottom of the eighth to cut the deficit to 8-6. Opp came in for relief to sit the final two batters down of the frame with runners on first and second.
- Fortunately for the visitors, Opp then closed out the final inning to secure the two-run win.
FACTS & FIGURES
- Army earned eight runs on 16 hits, while Ohio tallied six runs on 11 hits.
- The Cadets were credited with the game's only two errors.
- The Black Knights stranded 12 runners on base. Ohio left 11.
UP NEXT
- These two teams will continue their weekend series on Saturday.
- First pitch for that contest is 2 p.m. at Bob Wren Stadium.
- Live stats will be available at the start.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Giovinco, Tyler (3-1)
L: K. Ogg (1-3)
S: Opp, Cam (1)
Batting:
2B: Titus, Drake 1 ; McKenna, John 1 ; Walden, Andre 1 ; Adams, Jeremiah 1
3B: Giachin, Anthony 1
RBI: Hurtubise, Jacob 1 ; Titus, Drake 1 ; Giachin, Anthony 1 ; McKenna, John 2 ; Walden, Andre 1 ; Adams, Jeremiah 1 ; Siriani, Brendan 1
SH: Martin, Trey 1 ; Siriani, Brendan 1
SF: Hurtubise, Jacob 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hurtubise, Jacob 1 ; Titus, Drake 1 ; Giachin, Anthony 1 ; McKenna, John 1 ; White, Josh 2 ; Siriani, Brendan 2
CS: White, Josh 1
HBP: McKenna, John 2 ; White, Josh 1
Batting:
2B: S. Fabik 1
RBI: A. Levy 1 ; S. Fabik 2 ; D. McCauley 1
SH: D. Washingto 1
Base Running:
RUNS: A. Levy 1 ; R. Rott 1 ; S. Fabik 1 ; T. Hafner 1 ; T. Funderbur 1 ; D. Washingto 1
SB: A. Levy 1
