Army Splits Doubleheader; Season On Line Sunday

Saturday, May 11

Worcester, Mass.

1 p.m.

Army West Point

31-22

Holy Cross (Semifinals)

21-31

Army West Point

Holy Cross

Army Splits Doubleheader; Season On Line Sunday

May 12, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WORCESTER, Mass. - The Army West Point baseball team splits its doubleheader with Holy Cross here Saturday afternoon to force a decisive Game 3 in the Patriot League semifinals.

The Black Knights registered a 5-1 victory in the opener before falling 6-4 in the nightcap.

The Cadets had a chance to score the tying two runs in the bottom of the ninth with no outs in Game 2 but Holy Cross recorded three-straight outs to prolong its season.

Drake Titus, Andre Walden, and Jacob Hurtubise led the offense with three hits each on the day. Four Black Knights tallied two runs batted in, while Hurtubise and Anthony Giachin crossed home plate a team-best three time

Tyler Giovinco earned his eighth win of the year after going 7.0 innings allowing eight hits and just one run.

Sam Messina was tagged with the loss in the nightcap. The senior gave up six hits and six runs in 6.0 innings on the hill.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Hurtubise pulled within two of breaking Bryan Price's 1997 single-season runs record.
Walden, Trey Martin and John McKenna each registered a double throughout the games.
Martin and Giachin led the team with two walks apiece.
Walden, Martin, Tim Simoes, and Giachin all tallied two RBI to lead the Cadets.
The Black Knights turned the only two double plays on the day.
Logan Smith, Harry Flannery Jr., and Cam Opp all saw action on the hill.
Flannery and Opp combined to help Giovinco finish out Game 1, while Smith pitched 3.0 innings in the nightcap allowing just one hit.
The Cadets pitching staff accumulated 17 strikeouts, while Holy Cross finished with 16.

How It Happened - Game 1

Army broke the scoreless deadlock with one run on three hits in the top of the third. With the bases loaded and just one out Giachin reached on a fielder's choice which allowed enough time for Blake Ledoux to cross home plate.
The Black Knights added on in the top of the fifth when a Walden double to center field scored Titus and Giachin. That two-out hit was the sophomore's 10th double of the season and handed the Cadets a 3-0 edge.
Holy Cross would cut into that lead in the bottom half after a sacrifice fly scored Alex Volpi from third.
Fortunately for Army Simoes brought home two insurance runs in the ninth when he singled up the middle. His hit scored pinch runner Anfernee Crompton and Hurtubise.
Flannery and Opp then combined to close out the final frame for the Cadets.

How It Happened - Game 2

Army took a 1-0 edge after the opening frame after Giachin notched an RBI-groundout to score Hurtubise.
Unfortunately, Holy Cross jumped in front 4-1 in the fourth when it plated four runs on three hits. Chris Rinaldi came up with a big two-RBI double down the left field line to score two of those four runs.
The Crusaders added two runs on two hits in the top of the sixth to create a 6-1 gap between the teams.
The Black Knights cut into the deficit in the sixth when McKenna converted on a bases loaded sacrifice fly.
Army again pulled closer in the seventh after Martin recorded a two-out, two-RBI double to make it a 6-4 ballgame.
The Black Knights then tried to complete the comeback in the ninth with runners on first and second with no outs but they couldn't convert.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Cadets posted nine runs on the day thanks to 17 hits, while Holy Cross finished with seven runs on 18 hits.
Both teams were tagged with an error with Army earning two and the Crusaders one.
The Black Knights left 18 runners on base. Holy Cross stranded 15.

UP NEXT

These two teams will face off on Sunday in a decisive Game 3.
The winner will advance to the Patriot League Championship series against either Navy or Lafayette.
First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Fitton Field.
Live stats and video will be available at the start.