Solid All-Around Effort Lifts Army to 11-2 Victory

Saturday, March 16

Athens, Ohio

2 p.m.

Army West Point

9-7

Ohio

3-13

Army West Point

Ohio

Solid All-Around Effort Lifts Army to 11-2 Victory

March 16, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - The Army West Point baseball team took Game 2 of its weekend series with Ohio here Saturday afternoon after defeating the Bobcats 11-2.

The Cadets scored nine of their 11 runs with two outs and registered their their second-most runs batted in this season with 11. Army jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never really looked back. The only blemish on the day came in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Bobcats tallied two runs on two hits to pull within 6-2. The Black Knights responded with five unanswered runs to ultimately put the game away.

Four cadet-athletes earned multiple hits in the game in John McKenna, Andre Walden, Jeremiah Adams, and Tim Simoes. Accounting for a game-high four runs was McKenna, while Simoes touched home plate twice.

Walden led all players with four RBI, three of those coming from one swing of the bat. The sophomore handed the Cadets a 5-0 advantage in the third inning after he drilled his second long ball of the year.

Army's two-man pitching staff of starter Sam Messina and reliever Anthony LoRicco helped Army's cause as well.

Messina gave up just four hits, two runs and two walks in 6.0 innings of work. The Phoenix, Ariz., native also posted a season-best eight strikeouts. LoRicco then came in to close out the final 3.0 innings. The rookie registered his first career clean sheet as he did now allow a runner to get on base during his time on the hill. He added two strikeouts to Army's final total as well.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army has now registered at least seven or more runs in eight of its nine wins this season.
The Black Knights had eight extra base hits in the game, including a season-high seven doubles. McKenna and Simoes both had two doubles each.
Walden, Josh White, and Brendan Siriani each converted on a sacrifice bunt, while Jacob Hurtubise and Adams tallied sacrifice fly balls.
Anthony Giachin stole a game-high three bases, while Drake Titus swiped one.
The Black Knights allowed only one extra base hit in the game.
The Bobcats were forced to use six pitchers throughout the contest.
Giachin and McKenna drew a game-high two walks apiece.

How It Happened

The Black Knights scored two runs in the second inning to break the scoreless deadlock. McKenna walked to start the frame. The Bobcats tallied the first out during the next at bat but Adams followed that up with a single to place runners on first and second. After Ohio registered the second out, Simoes connected for a two-RBI double down the right field line.
Army again rallied with two outs in the third when Walden went yard to bring home three more runs. With two outs in the frame, Giachin was hit by a pitch. McKenna then walked before Walden stepped into the batters box and drilled a shot over the right field wall to clear the bases.
The Cadets extended their lead to 6-0 in the top of the fourth when Walden brought home his fourth run of the game with a single to the shortstop. His two-out hit scored Titus, who had doubled and stole third earlier in the inning.
The Bobcats cut the deficit down to 6-2 in the bottom half of the fourth thanks to a one-out bases loaded walk and fielder's choice.
Army increased its advantage to 7-2 in the seventh when White singled to left field with two outs to score McKenna from third.
Simoes started the eighth by doubling to right field to get a runner in scoring position. Siriani converted on a sacrifice bunt during the next at bat to shift him over to third. Hurtubise followed that up with a sacrifice fly to score the sophomore and hand the Black Knights an 8-2 edge.
Army continued to build on its lead in the ninth after Adams converted on an RBI sacrifice fly and Siriani a two-RBI double. Those plays extended the Black Knights' lead to the eventual final score of 11-2.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Black Knights tallied 11 runs on 11 hits, while Ohio posted two runs on four hits.
Both teams were tagged with an error in the game.
Army left seven runners on base. Ohio stranded four.

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