Army Sweeps Navy in Doubleheader

Monday, April 3

West Point, NY

1:00 PM

Army West Point

14-12, 5-2

Navy

14-14, 7-4

Navy

Army West Point

Army Sweeps Navy in Doubleheader

April 03, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point baseball team (15-12, 6-2 PL) defeated the Navy Midshipmen (14-15, 7-5, PL) 2-1 in Game 1 of Monday afternoon's doubleheader. Army's Addison Ainsworth secured the win for the Black Knights with a walk-off double in the bottom of the tenth inning.

In Game 2, the Black Knights defeated the Midshipmen 5-0. Sam Ruta went 2-3, having a run, three RBIs, a 3-run home run, and a double.

How it Happened

GAME 1 (Army Wins 2-1, 10 innings)

With the game tied in the tenth inning, Addison Ainsworth hit a walk-off double, which was the deciding factor in the game as the Black Knights held onto the 2-1 win.

After two scoreless innings, the bats came alive for the Black Knights, attacking Navy starter Matthew Shirah (No Decision) in the bottom of the third. With one out, Addison Ainsworth hit a single to center field, putting a runner on first. Derek Berg reached first on an error by Navy's third baseman Brock Murtha, advancing Ainsworth to second base. Senior Kevin Dubrule ripped an RBI double down the left field line, sending Ainsworth in to score, Dubrule advanced to third on the throw, putting a runner in scoring position; Berg attempted to score on the play but was tagged out at home. Navy ended the inning by tagging Dubrule out at home.

BTM 3 | WE TAKE THE LEAD!!!

Kevin Dubrule doubles down the line and brings in Ainsworth to give us a 1-0 lead!

?? https://t.co/SrryUMLY0o #GoArmy | @PatriotLeagueTV pic.twitter.com/5pw3s6rKXW
— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) April 3, 2023

The Midshipmen threatened the Black Knights in the top of the fourth inning. Army starter Mike Ruggieri (No Decision) walked the leadoff batter, putting Logan Keller on at first. Keller advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting a runner in scoring position. Navy's Kyle Rausch hit a single up the middle, advancing Keller to third, and putting runners on the corners. The Black Knights retired the side with a fly-out and two groundouts.

Nick Burch reached first on an error, putting a runner on first base. Hudson Lehnertz hit a single to left field, advancing Burch to second, and putting a runner in scoring position. Patrick Melampy came in to pitch relief for the Black Knights in the top of the fifth inning. Melampy retired the side with three strikeouts.

The Midshipmen began their comeback in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Burch walked, putting a runner on first. Burch advanced to second on a throwing error. Lehnertz grounded out to shortstop, advancing Burch to third. Murtha ripped an RBI triple down the right field line, sending Burch in to score, making it a 1-1 game.

In the top of the ninth inning, Navy threatened the Black Knights. Henry Mitchell hit a leadoff single, putting a runner on base. Burch doubled, advancing to third. Army tagged Burch out at home. The Black Knights ended the inning with a groundout.

THAT. JUST. HAPPENED.

Ellis ?? Dubrule ?? Berg to keep the game knotted at 1-1!!!!!!

?? https://t.co/SrryUMLY0o #GoArmy | @PatriotLeagueTV | #PLTop3 | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/M4emWPMcly
— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) April 3, 2023

Navy retired the side in the bottom of the ninth.

With one out in the top of the tenth inning, Alex Smith hit a single to center field, putting a runner on base. The Black Knights retired the side with a double play.

In the bottom of the tenth inning, with one out, Ethan Ellis walked, putting a runner on base. After a fly out to center field, Addison Ainsworth ripped a walk-off double to right field, Ellis advanced to third and scored on a throwing error, securing the victory for the Black Knights.

?? ICYMI ??

Addison Ainsworth came in clutch with a walk-off double in the bottom of the 10th inning!#GoArmy @PatriotLeagueTV #PLTop3 pic.twitter.com/Yel0SE10nC
— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) April 3, 2023

Game 2 (Army wins 5-0)

After two and a half scoreless innings, the Black Knights attacked Navy starter Russell Thomas (L, 3-3). After walking Addison Ainsworth, Derek Berg reached first on an error by first baseman Logan Keller. Ainsworth advanced to third. Junior Sam Ruta hit a 3-run home run, sending Berg and Ainsworth in to score, making it a 3-0 game.

Check out Sam Ruta's 3-run ?? to right field, giving Army a 3-0 lead!

?? https://t.co/tiHHZR3Sts #GoArmy @espn @PatriotLeagueTV pic.twitter.com/9XHcbLve8C
— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) April 3, 2023

Kevin Dubrule ripped a single to right field, putting a runner on first. The Midshipmen got two outs with a groundout and Dubrule got tagged on the play. Russell ended the inning with a strikeout.

Army starter Robbie Buecker (W, 3-2) kept Navy from scoring position in the top of the fourth. Buecker retired the side with two flyouts and a pop-up.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Russell walked Ainsworth, putting a runner on first. With one out, Ruta hit an RBI double to left center, sending Ainsworth across the plate, giving Army a 4-0 lead.

Sam Ruta rips an RBI double to left center, giving Army a 4-0 lead!

?? https://t.co/u56SdZmtzH #GoArmy @espn @PatriotLeagueTV pic.twitter.com/UZJmdfmA7n
— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) April 3, 2023

Reece Early came in to pitch relief for Russell. Early retired the side with a fly-out and a pop-up.

In the top of the sixth, the Midshipmen again threatened the Black Knights. With one out, Hudson Lehnertz ripped a double down the left field line, putting a runner in to scoring position. Buecker cleared the side with a strike out and a ground out.

The bats for the Black Knights came alive again in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Braden Golinski hit a single up the middle, putting a runner on base. Freshman Ethan Ellis followed with an RBI single up the middle, Golinski advanced to third and came in to score off an error by center fielder Nick Burch, making it a 5-0 game.

With one out in the top of the seventh, Keller ripped a single up the middle, putting a runner on first. Brock Murtha walked, putting runners on first and second. Army picked up the second out of the inning when Derek Berg caught Murtha stealing first, picking him off.

?? ICYMI ??

Derek Berg caught Navy stealing!#GoArmy @espn @PatriotLeagueTV pic.twitter.com/V7oshb0pFU
— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) April 4, 2023

Buecker walked Eduardo Diaz, putting two runners on base. The Black Knights secured the win with a ground out.

Inside the Box

Game 1

Addison Ainsworth went 2-4, having a run, an RBI, and a double.
Army starter Mike Ruggieri pitched 4.0 innings, allowing 4 hits, and no runs, while striking out 2 and walking 2.
Kevin Dubrule went 2-4, having an RBI and a double.
Army relief pitcher Patrick Melampy (1-2) got the win, working 6.0 innings, allowing 5 hits, and 1 run, while striking out 8, and walked 1.
Navy starter Matthew Shirah (No Decision) went 6.1 innings, allowing 5 hits, and 1 run, while striking out 8, and no walks.
Relief pitcher Nolan Jorgenson (L, 0-2) got the loss, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing 1 hit, and 1 run, while striking out 2, and walked 1.

Game 2

Army starter Robbie Buecker (3-2) got the win, pitching a complete game shutout, allowing four hits, no runs, while striking out 3, and walking 2.
Sam Ruta went 2-3, having a run, 3 RBIs, a 3-run home run, and a double.
Braden Golinski batted 2-3, having a run and a stolen base.
Ethan Ellis had a hit, an RBI, and a stolen base.
Navy starter Thomas Russell (3-3) got the loss, working 4.1 innings, allowing 4 hits, 4 runs, and 3 earned runs, while striking out 5, and walking 2.
Relief pitcher Reece Early pitched 1.2 inning, allowing 2 hits, and 1 run, while striking out 1, and had no walks.

Up Next

Army will go on the road to face Siena on Wednesday, April 5 at 3:00 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.