CHAMPS! Baseball Claims Fourth-Straight Patriot League Title

Thursday, May 26

West Point, NY

1 PM

Army West Point

31-22

Bucknell

22-26

BUCKNELL

Army

CHAMPS! Baseball Claims Fourth-Straight Patriot League Title

May 26, 2022 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Behind a season-high 21 hits, the top-seeded Army West Point baseball team powered its way past No. 2 Bucknell, 12-2, to claim its fourth-straight Patriot League Championship in game three on Thursday afternoon at Johnson Stadium.

The title is the 11th in program history for the Black Knights (31-22), who are the first team in conference history to win four-consecutive crowns. Additionally, the Class of 2022 secured its 100th win in the Black & Gold.

Sam Ruta was named Tournament MVP and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Ross Friedrick, Hunter Meade and Sean Dennehy. Ruta was 7-for-11 during the series against the Bison (22-26), scored three runs and picked up a pair of RBI. Friedrick batted .500 with a team-best four runs scored while Meade (5-for-12) added a pair of doubles and four RBI. Dennehy (1-0) pitched in both of the team's wins, striking out four batters through 2.0 innings on the bump and posted an ERA of 0.00.

Though Army won the first meeting between the sides with an 8-7 walkoff win, Bucknell rallied to a 13-3 victory in game two to force the rubber match. After a slow offensive showing on Wednesday, the Cadets pounced on the Bison early in game three and jumped out 6-0 in the bottom of the first thanks to four RBI singles and a sac fly off the bat of Meade.

Anthony LoRicco got the starting nod for the home team but left after just 2.1 frames due to injury. Mike Ruggieri, who was unable to warm up, entered the game and turned a 1-6-3 double play against the first batter he faced before cruising through a scoreless fourth.

The Black Knights never looked back once they went ahead and continued to build their lead over the third and fourth innings, adding three additional tallies on Meade's RBI double, an RBI single from Cam Cerruto and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.

Facing a 9-0 deficit, Bucknell eventually got on the board in the top of the fifth when a one-out single brought in its first run. Ruggieri then handed the ball over to Steven Graver, who recorded the following two outs with ease.

The visitor's bats remained in check through the middle innings before the Bison led off the top of the seventh with back-to-back hits. A groundout brought one run in, but the tandem of relievers Matthew Ronnebaum and Sean Dennehy forced the Bison to leave the bases loaded with the score remaining at 9-2.

Following three scoreless frames, Army made one final push in the bottom of the eighth as Derek Berg, Friedrick and Cerruto all crossed home plate to lift the team to its 12-2 margin of victory.

Both Dennehy and Tanner Gresham combined for the final eight outs, while Ruggieri (3-4) was credited with the win.

The @PatriotLeague MVP Sam Ruta joined @M_Trivelpiece after @ArmyWP_Baseball won the 2022 Championship. The sophomore was grateful to have won at home for the seniors.@NCAABaseball | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/4R6ZCzt264
— Patriot League on ESPN (@PatriotLeagueTV) May 26, 2022

What's Next
Having secured the Patriot League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, Army Baseball will await its regional placement and seeding which will be announced during the selection show on Monday, May 30 at Noon on the NCAA website.

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.