Pitchers Dominate on the Mound, Baseball Sweeps Navy in Doubleheader

Sunday, March 27

Annapolis, MD

2 PM

Army West Point

6-15, 1-2

Navy

10-13, 2-5

Army

Navy

Pitchers Dominate on the Mound, Baseball Sweeps Navy in Doubleheader

March 27, 2022 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – For the first time since 2018, the Army West Point baseball team achieved a doubleheader sweep against Navy on Sunday afternoon at Max Bishop Stadium. The Black Knights (7-15, 2-2 PL) defeated the Midshipmen (10-14, 2-6 PL) 7-0 before taking down their hosts 9-0 in game two.

Three different pitchers combined to hold Navy scoreless for 16 innings. Patrick Melampy tossed a complete game shutout in the first outing, while the duo of Brian Dawson and Tanner Gresham suffocated the Mids' offense in game two.

In the 121-year history between the two programs, Army has blanked Navy 11 times including Sunday's results. Before the 2022 campaign, the Black Knights had never shut out their service academy rival twice in one year.

Army 7, Navy 0 (7 inn.)
Melampy shined in the opening contest, pitching Army's first complete game shutout since the 2018 season.

The right-hander faced just one over the minimum in seven innings, recording two strikeouts while scattering a pair of hits. He issued no walks and threw 83 total pitches while helping the Cadets hold the Mids scoreless for the first time since 2014.

Offensively, the team was led by Sam Ruta, who finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Carter Macias also highlighted the effort, scoring a game-high three runs.

Army built its lead slowly through the start of the game, tagging up three runs over four frames. Macias was first to cross home plate, scoring on a Midshipman miscue in the top of the first. Both Ruta, who drove in a run with a single in the third, and Derek Berg, who brought in a runner with a sacrifice bunt in the fourth, were credited with RBI as the Black Knights took a 3-0 lead.

Following a quiet fifth inning, the Cadets' offense exploded in the sixth with a four-spot that boosted the team to its seven-run total. Cullen Horowicz tallied a pinch-hit single to lead things off and was replaced by Kevin Luke, who ran in on Hunter Meade's single to right field. Nick Manesis then drove in the final three runs of the game with a bases-clearing double that scored Kevin Dubrule, Macias and Meade.

Melampy was dominant down the stretch, retiring 11-straight batters to finish off the game. With the result, he earned his first win of the season, improving to 1-1.

Army 9, Navy 0
Though the bats got off to a slower start in game two, Army's offense was unstoppable in the final innings of the day, putting up eight runs between the sixth and the ninth en route to achieving the sweep.

Dawson and Gresham were in cruise control on the mound, limiting Navy to just five total hits while striking out four batters apiece. Dawson (1-0) pitched a 6.0-inning quality start, while Greshman picked up his second save of the 2022 campaign.

After being held scoreless through the opening frames, the Black Knights took the lead when Manesis crossed home plate on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth. Though Navy kept the Cadets off the board in the fifth, a three-spot in the following inning allowed Army to extend its advantage. Ruta kicked off the spree, scoring on an error, before Braden Golinski and Berg drove in runners with back-to-back RBI singles.

Army put up another crooked number in the following frame, as a passed ball and a sac fly off the bat of Ruta pushed the score to 6-0. The Mids' bullpen kept the offense in check in the eighth, but the Cadets were unable to be contained for long as Ruta's two-run homer and Blake Ledoux's RBI double helped the team tag up an additional three runs in the final inning.

Coach's Corner
"We did a good job on the mound today, the defense was solid and we got back to playing the style of baseball we like to play. The team completed well and showed better poise today. We have a long way to go, but they bounced back well after yesterday so I am proud of them for that. It all starts on the mound and Melampy and Dawson were very good for us today in that aspect." – Head Coach Jim Foster

What's Next
The Cadets will return home to Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field for a midweek game against Hofstra on Wednesday, March 30. First pitch against the Pride is set for 3 p.m. Following the non-conference outing, Army will remain at home to host Holy Cross for a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3. Both days will begin at 1 p.m.

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