Offense Lifts Baseball Past Lehigh in Rubber Match

Sunday, April 10

Bethlehem, PA

12 PM

Army West Point

14-16, 8-3

Lehigh

16-16, 4-7

Army West Point

Lehigh

Offense Lifts Baseball Past Lehigh in Rubber Match

April 10, 2022 | Baseball

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Behind a staggering 17 hits, the Army West Point baseball team blasted its way to a 14-4 victory in its series finale against Lehigh on Sunday afternoon at Legacy Park.

With the result, the Black Knights (14-16, 8-3 PL), who split yesterday's doubleheader with the Mountain Hawks (16-16, 4-7 PL), pick up their third-straight Patriot League series win. Additionally, the Cadets have won nine of their past 10 outings, putting up double-digit runs in three of the victories.

Kevin Dubrule highlighted the team's offensive effort, finishing the day a perfect 4-4 with three RBI and one double. Five different Black Knights had a multi-hit outing, with Ross Friedrick chipping in a team-high five RBI.

Army's bats were consistent throughout the contest, plating runs in six different frames. The Black Knights started the scoring early and put up a pair of runs in the opening three innings off Nick Manesis' groundout and Dubrule's single. From there, the team never looked back.

Lehigh eventually drove in its first run of the clash when an RBI single cut the Army lead down to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Starting arm Patrick Melampy settled back in after the attack and faced the minimum in both the fifth and sixth innings.

The Black Knights went on to put up a crooked number in the top of the fifth, plating four runs to re-extend the advantage. Manesis got the spree started by drawing a bases-loaded walk before Dubrule crossed home plate on a passed ball. Friedrick then capped off the spurt with a bases-clearing single that drove both Manesis and Sam Ruta in, pushing the score to 6-1 Army.

Though Friedrick went on to add another RBI knock in the top of the seventh, Lehigh was able to gain some momentum in the bottom of the frame. After using a double to plate a run, the Mountain Hawks forced the Black Knights into their bullpen and Matthew Ronnebaum came out to relieve Melampy. An RBI walk and a sac fly allowed two of the runners to score before Ronnebaum ended the frame with the Cadet lead slimmed down to 7-4.

Unfortunately for the home team, its seventh-inning push was its last of the day as Ronnebaum faced just two over the minimum in his next two frames. On the other side of the ball, Army continued to attack and scored nine combined runs over the final two innings to claim its final margin of victory. Ruta, Friedrick, Cam Cerruto and Dubrule were all credited with at least one RBI during the surge. Melampy picked up the win, moving him to 3-1 on the year.

What's Next
Army's road stint will continue with a midweek game at Hartford on Wednesday, April 13 at Dunkin' Donuts Park, home of the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies' Double-A affiliate). First pitch against the Hawks is scheduled for 3:30 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.