Black Knights Come Up Short at Duke Invitational

Friday, February 25

Durham, NC

10 a.m.

Army West Point

Northern Kentucky University

Black Knights Come Up Short at Duke Invitational

February 25, 2022 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

DURHAM, N.C. --- Army West Point Softball (1-7) battled at the second day of the Duke Invitational but fell 5-4 to Northern Kentucky University (7-4) in the opening game and 13-1 to #13 Duke (11-2) on Friday afternoon, at Duke Softball Stadium.

Ellie Caldwell led the Black Knights at the plate going 3-for-5 with one RBI and one double. Jolie Duong recorded her second home run of the season against NKU recording one run and one RBI. Kayla Edwards finished the day 2-for-5 at the plate scoring one run.

GAME 1

Army battled against Northern Kentucky, making a late seventh inning push off a homer by Duong, but ultimately fell 4-5 to the Norse. Olivia Farris (0-3) was in the circle for Army and pitched 6.0 innings.

NKU got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning scoring two runs of three hits. Army answered back in the top of the second. Kaci Donaldson drew a walk to get a runner on for the Black Knights and advanced to third off a single from Julia Farris's bat. With runners on the corners, Caldwell bunted a single to bring Donaldson home. Army finished the frame with one run off two hits to cut NKU's lead to 2-1.

NKU retaliated with three runs in the bottom of the second to extend its lead to 5-2 over Army. Brook Mitchell helped the Black Knights warm up the bats in the top of the third with a single to left field. Edwards followed with a single of her own to move Mitchell to third. Leila Hurst recorded a base hit that brought in Mitchell. Edwards turned on the wheels advancing to home plate on the throw bringing Army within two of NKU, 5-3.

It was a battle of the pitchers for the next three innings as neither team was able to plate a run. In the top of the seventh, Duong came in as pinch hitter and fired the first pitch over the right field fence for her second home run of the season. She helped Army get within one of NKU but it wasn't enough as the Black Knights fell 4-5 to the Norse.

GAME 1

Army trouble keeping up with #13 Duke at the plate falling 13-1 to the Blue Devils in five innings. Emily Iannotti (0-2) started in the circle for Army.

Duke got on the board first with four runs off three hits and an error to lead 4-0 over Army. Donaldson recorded a base hit up the middle in the top of the second inning, but the Black Knights were unable to keep the momentum going. Army had trouble with Duke's offense as the Blue Devils added on four more runs of five hits and one error to lead 8-0 over Army.

In the top of the third, Grace Snyder earned a trip to first base after getting hit by a pitch and was replaced by Lauren Little. Caldwell fired off a double to center field to put runners into scoring position. Little took advantage of a wild pitch and scored to get Army on the board. The Black Knights ended the inning with one run of one hit.

Duke retaliated with a run in the bottom of the inning to up its lead to 9-1. Edwards tried to rally the Cadets in the top of the fourth with a leadoff single, but Army was unable to capitalize and went back to the field. Duke scored four runs off three hits and one error in the bottom of the fifth to lead 13-1 over Army.

Caldwell made a late push with a leadoff double in the top of the fifth inning. She stole third base to put herself in scoring position. Army ultimately fell 13-1 to Duke.

Inside the Box Score

Caldwell recorded her first double of the season.
Duong now has two home runs on the season
Duke leads the series 2-1 over Army.

Up Next
The Black Knights head south for spring break playing in the USF to play in two weekend tournaments on March 4-6 and March 11-13 with a midweek doubleheader scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, against Western Michigan.

Follow Along
For complete coverage of Army West Point softball, follow the Black Knights on Twitter @ArmyWP_Softball, on Instagram @armywp_softball, and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com.