Army Clinches Regular Season Title, Defeats Leopards 5-3

Friday, April 28

West Point, NY

5:30 PM

Army West Point

29-13, 17-2

Lafayette College

13-30, 9-10

Lafayette

Army West Point

Army Clinches Regular Season Title, Defeats Leopards 5-3

April 28, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y.– The Army West Point baseball team (29-13, 17-2 PL) defeated the Lafayette College Leopards (13-30, 9-10, PL) 5-3 Friday night. Army's Derek Berg batted 2-4, with a home run, an RBI, and a run.

With tonight's win, the Black Knights clinch the Patriot League Regular Season title for the second time since the 2022 season.

How it Happened

The Lafayette Leopards attacked Army starter Robbie Buecker (W, 4-2). Easton Brenner hit a leadoff single to left field, putting a runner on first. Lafayette's Pete Ciuffreda ripped a single to Kevin Dubrule, putting runners on first and second. With one out, Ciuffreda and Brenner stole second and third, on an error by Derek Berg, Brenner came in to score, giving the Leopards a 1-0 lead. Army cleared the side with a groundout and a strikeout.

The bats for the Black Knights came alive. Leadoff hitter Derek Berg attacked Lafayette starter Pat Walega (L, 1-1) with a home run to left field, making it a 1-1 game. Junior Sam Ruta ripped a single to left field, putting a runner on first. Kevin Dubrule hit a sacrifice, advancing Ruta to second. First baseman Ross Friedrick hit an RBI single to left field, sending Ruta in to score, giving Army a 2-1 game. Junior Braden Golinski ripped an RBI double to right center, sending Friedrick across the plate, giving the Black Knights a 3-1 lead. With two outs, Golinski stole third. Lafayette ended the inning with a groundout.

In the top of the second, the Leopards threatened Army. With one out, Kaleb Willis reached on an error by Ruta and advanced to second on the throw, putting a runner in scoring position. With two outs, Willis stole third. Justin Grech walked, putting runners on the corners. The Black Knights retired the side with a fly-out.

The Black Knights got out in order in the bottom of the second.

In the top of the third the Leopards again threatened Army. With one out, Michael Zarrillo hit a single to right center, putting a runner on first. Seif Ingram ripped a double down the left field line, putting runners on second and third. Lafayette loaded the bases, after Ethan Swidler walked. Army got out of a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout and a groundout.

With one out in the bottom of the third, the Black Knights threatened Walega. Dubrule hit a double to right field, putting a runner in scoring position. Friedrick grounded out to second, advancing Dubrule to third. Lafayette ended the inning with a groundout.

Lafayette got out in order in the top of the fourth.

Army continued to dominate the batter's box. With one out in the bottom of the fourth, freshman Addison Ainsworth ripped a triple down the right field line, putting a runner in scoring position. Ethan Ellis hit an RBI single to right field, sending Ainsworth into score, extending the Black Knights lead to 4-1. With two outs, Derek Berg ripped a single left field, putting runners on first and second. Lafayette retired the side with a fly-out.

In the top of the fifth, The Black Knights continued to attack the Leopards. Kevin Dubrule ripped a leadoff single to center field, putting a runner on first. Ross Friedrick hit a single through the right side, and Dubrule advanced to third, putting a runner in scoring position. With one out, Army loaded the bases after Carter Hewitt walked. Adam Bogosian came in to pitch relief for Pat Walega. Bogosian retired the side with a strikeout and a fly-out.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, James Aselta came into the game for Willis as the designated hitter. Army cleared the side after Aselta lined out to Chris Barr.

In the bottom of the sixth, Chris Barr reached first on an error by catcher Ethan Swidler, Barr advanced to second on the throw, putting a runner in scoring position. With one out, Sam Ruta reached first on an error by second baseman Kyle Chmielewski, Barr advanced to third, putting runners on the corners. Army made it a 5-1 game after Dubrule reached on a fielder's choice, Ruta was tagged out at second, and Barr came in to score. Lafayette ended the inning with a fly-out to left field.

The Leopards began their comeback attempt in the top of the seventh. Chmielewski reached on an error by Buecker and advanced to second, putting a runner in scoring position. Chmielewski advanced to third on a passed ball. Grech hit an RBI single to Dubrule, sending Chmielewski in to score, making it a 5-2 game. With one out, Ciuffreda was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. Army ended the inning with a double play.

The Black Knights threatened to further extend their lead against Lafayette. Braden Golinski hit a bunt single to third and advanced to second on a throwing error by Swidler, putting a runner in scoring position. Bogosian retired the side with a strikeout and two groundouts.

Bret Copeland came in for Chris Barr at second in the top of the eighth. With one out, Michael Mallas came into pinch hit for Swidler. Buecker cleared the side with a strikeout and a fly-out.

In the bottom of the eighth, Mallas came into the game as a catcher. With one out, Berg reached first on an error by shortstop Ben Petrone and advanced to second on the throw. Berg advanced to third on a wild pitch, putting a runner in scoring position. Lafayette ended the inning with a strikeout and a fly-out.

With two outs in the top of the ninth, the Leopards made it a two-run game, after Justin Grech hit a solo home run to left field, making it a 5-3 game. Army relief pitcher Sean Dennehy came in to pitch relief for Robbie Buecker. The Black Knights secured the win with a fly-out.

Inside the Box

Army starter Robbie Buecker (4-2) got the win, pitching 8.2 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs, and 1 earned run, while striking out 7, and walking 2.
Derek Berg batted 2-5, having a home run, an RBI, and a run.
Senior Kevin Dubrule went 2-4, with a double, and an RBI.
Ross Friedrick batted 2-4 and had an RBI and a run.
Sean Dennehy (5) got the save, working 0.1 inning, allowing no hits, or runs, and had no walks or strikeouts.
Freshman Addison Ainsworth hit his first career triple and also had a run.
Braden Golinski batted 2-4, with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base.
Lafayette starter Pat Walega (1-1) got the loss, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing 10 hits, and 4 runs, while striking out 2, and walked 1.
Relief pitcher Adam Bogosian worked 3.2 innings, allowing 1 hit, and 1 run, while striking out 3, and had no walks.

Up Next

The Black Knights will continue their series against Lafayette with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 29 at 12 p.m.

Follow Along
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