Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
35-16, 21-4
Lafayette College (Semifinals)
15-36, 10-15
Baseball Sweeps Lafayette to Secure Patriot League Championship Spot
May 14, 2023 | Baseball
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point baseball team (36-16, 21-15 PL) defeated the Lafayette Leopards (15-37, 15-10, PL) 15-6 in Game 2 of Sunday afternoon's Patriot League Semifinals, splitting the series 1-1, forcing Game 3. Sophomore Coleson Titus gave Army the lead with a three-run home run
In Game 3, the Black Knights defeated the Leopards 5-1, securing a spot in the Patriot League Championships. Army starter Robbie Buecker pitched 7.0 innings, holding Lafayette to one run, one hit, and struck out four batters.
How it Happened
GAME 1 (Army Wins 15-6)
In the bottom of the first, Army threatened Lafayette starter Pat Walega (No Decision). With two outs, Kevin Dubrule walked, putting a runner on first. Senior Ross Friedrick hit a single to right field, advancing Dubrule to third, and putting runners on the corners. The Leopards ended the inning with a strikeout.
Lafayette attacked Army starter Mike Ruggieri (W, 8-1) in the top of the second. With one out, Justin Grech hit a single to third, putting a runner on first. Grech advanced to second on an error by Ruggieri, Grech was tagged out at third by Sam Ruta. Kyle Chmielewski walked, putting a runner on first. Ben Petrone hit an RBI double to left center sending Chmielewski in to score, giving the Leopards a 1-0 lead. Ethan Swidler walked, putting runners on first and second. With two outs, Blaze Fadio gave Lafayette a 2-0, after hitting an RBI single to center field, advancing Swidler to second, and sending Petrone across the plate. The Black Knights retired the side after Berg picked off Fadio at first.
Army got out in order in the bottom of the second.
With one out in the top of the third, the Leopards made it a 3-0 game, after Pete Ciuffreda hit a solo home run to right field. The Black Knights cleared the side with a groundout and a fly-out.
Army threatened Lafayette in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Ruta walked, putting a runner on first. Dubrule ripped a single to left field, advancing Ruta to second, putting a runner in scoring position. The Leopards cleared the side with a fly-out.
In the top of the fifth, Lafayette attempted to extend its lead. With one out, Easton Brenner walked, putting a runner on first, Ciuffreda grounded out, advancing Brennor to second, putting a runner in scoring position. The Black Knights retired the side with a pop-up.
In the bottom of the fifth Army began its comeback. Leadoff hitter Chris Barr walked, putting a runner on first. Junior Derek Berg ripped a two-run home run to left field, making it a one-run game. Ruta walked, putting a runner on first. Relief pitcher Adam Bogosian came into the game for Pat Walega. Dubrule walked, putting runners on first and second. Ross Friedrick reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Dubrule to second on an error by Chmielewski, Ruta came in to score, making it a 3-3 game. With one out, Coleson Titus blasted a three-run home run to left field, giving Army a 6-3 lead. James Reese came in to pitch relief for Adam Bogosian. With two outs, freshman Addison Ainsworth hit a double to right center, putting a runner in scoring position. Bar made it a 7-3 game after ripping an RBI triple to left center, sending Ainsworth across the plate. Chase Barley came into the game for James Reese. Barley ended the inning with a strikeout.
The Leopards threatened to cut into Army's lead. With one out, Grech walked, putting a runner on first, Grech advanced on an error by Ruggieri, putting a runner in scoring position. Ruggieri cleared the side with a strikeout and a fly-out.
In the bottom of the sixth, the bats came alive for the Black Knights. Leadoff hitter Sam Ruta walked, putting a runner on first. With two outs, Friedrick ripped an RBI double down the left field line, making it an 8-3 game. Relief pitcher Antonio Correa came into the game for Chase Barley. Braden Golinski hit a two-run home run to left center, giving Army a 10-3 lead. With two outs, Lafayette ended the inning with a groundout.
In the top of the seventh, the Leopards cut into the Black Knights lead. Ethan Swidler hit a leadoff home run to center field, making it a 10-4 game. Trevor Finan (S, 1) came into the game for Mike Ruggieri. Fadio hit a single to third, putting a runner on first. Easton Brenner walked, putting runners on first and second. Army retired the side with a strikeout and a line out to Ruta.
The Black Knights continued to command the batter's box. Ainsworth was hit by a pitch, putting a runner on first. Barr hit a sacrifice bunt to first, advancing Ainsworth to second, putting a runner in scoring position. Berg walked, putting a runner on first and second. Berg was caught stealing, advancing Ainsworth to third. Sam Ruta blasted a two-run home run to center field giving Army a 12-4 lead. Bo Planeta came in to pitch relief for Antonio Correa. Lafayette ended the inning with a fly-out.
Justin Grech hit a leadoff home run in the top of the eighth, making it a 12-5 game. Army cleared the side with a fly-out, groundout, and a strikeout.
Justin Weiss game into the came to catch for Ethan Swidler in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Golinski ripped a single to left field, putting a runner on first. With two outs, freshman Ethan Ellis hit a ground-rule double to right center, putting two runners in scoring position. Ainsworth ripped a two-RBI double to left center, giving the Black Knights a 14-5 lead. Ainsworth advanced to third on a wild pitch. Chris Barr hit an RBI double through the left side, sending Ainsworth in to score, making it a 15-5 game. The Leopards ended the inning with a strikeout.
Bret Copeland came into the game for Chris Barr in the top of the ninth. With one out, Brenner hit a double through the left side, putting a runner in scoring position. Brenner advanced to third on a passed ball. Pete Ciuffreda ripped an RBI single to right field, making it a 15-6 game. Parker Walsh came in to pinch run for Ciuffreda. With two outs, Finan secured the win with a strikeout.
Game 2 (Army wins 5-1)
The Leopards threatened Army starter Robbie Buecker (W, 4-3) in the top of the first. Easton Brenner was hit by a pitch, putting a runner on first. Pete Ciuffreda walked, advancing Brenner to second, putting a runner in scoring position. With two outs, Justin Grech walked, loading the bases. Buecker got out of the bases-loaded jam with a fly-out.
In the bottom of the first, the Black Knights threatened Lafayette starter Joe Skapinetz (L, 2-4). Leadoff hitter Derek Berg hit a single to third, putting a runner on first. Sam Ruta walked, putting runners on first and second. The Leopards ended the inning with a fly-out and two strikeouts.
With one out in the top of the second, Lafayette got on the board with a solo home run by Ethan Swidler, giving the Leopards an early 1-0 lead. Buecker ended the inning with a strikeout and a fly-out.
Army responded in the bottom of the second. With one out, Ethan Ellis walked, putting a runner on first. Addison Ainsworth grounded out, advancing Ellis to second, putting a runner in scoring position. Chris Barr ripped an RBI single to center field, sending Ellis in to score, making it a 1-1 game. Lafayette ended the inning after Barr was caught stealing.
The Leopards got out in order in the top of the third.
The bats came alive for the Black Knights in the bottom of the third. Berg was hit by a pitch, putting a runner on first, with two outs, Ross Friedrick hit a single to left center, putting runners on first and second. Army loaded the bases after Braden Golinski walked. Coleson Titus gave the Black Knights a 3-1 lead after hitting a two-RBI single to left center, sending Berg and Friedrick in to score. The Black Knights loaded the bases again after Ethan Ellis was hit by a pitch. The Leopards cleared the side with a strikeout.
Adam Bogosian came into the game for Joe Skapinetz in the bottom of the fourth, getting Army out in order.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Black Knights dominated the diamond. Kevin Dubrule walked, putting a runner on first. With two outs, Titus ripped a single to Blaze Fadio, putting runners on first and second. Ellis hit an RBI single to left center, advancing to second on the throw, and advancing Titus to third, Dubrule came in to score, giving Army a 4-1 lead. Dylan Siesky came in to pitch relief for Adam Bogosian. Lafayette ended the inning with a groundout.
In the top of the sixth, the Leopards threatened Buecker. Michael Zarrillo walked, putting a runner on first. Seif Ingram reached on a fielder's choice and Zarrillo was tagged out at second. The Black Knights retired the side with a strikeout and Chmielewski fouling out to Barr.
Jacob Maurer came in to pitch relief for Dylan Siesky.
The Leopards got out in order in the top of the seventh.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Braden Golinski ripped a double to left center, putting a runner in scoring position. Golinski advanced to third on a balk. Army made it a 5-1 lead after Golinski scored on a wild pitch. With two outs, Ethan Ellis walked, putting a runner on first. Relief pitcher James Reese came into the game for Jacob Maurer. Ainsworth walked, putting runners on first and second. Chris Barr reached on a fielder's choice; Lafayette ended the inning by tagging Ainsworth out at second.
Patrick Melampy came in to pitch relief for Robbie Buecker in the top of the eighth.
With two outs, Michael Zarrillo walked, putting a runner on first. Seif Ingram reached on a fielder's choice; Zarrillo was tagged out at second, ending the inning.
The Black Knights got out in order in the bottom of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, leadoff hitter Justin Grech hit a single to left field, putting a runner on first. Kyle Chmielewski ripped a double through the left side, advancing Grech to third, putting two runners in scoring position. Army got two quick outs after Petrone lined out to Ross Friedrick and Dubrule tagged Chmielewski out at second. Melampy secured the win for Army with a groundout.
Inside the Box
Game 1
- Army starter Mike Ruggieri (8-1) got the win, working 6.0 innings, allowing 5 hits, and 4 runs, while striking out 4, and walking 5.
- Addison Ainsworth batted 2-4 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs.
- Coleson Titus had a hit, a home run, 3 RBIs, and a run.
- Chris Barr batted 2-3 with a triple, a double, 2 RBIs, and a run.
- Derek Berg had a hit, a home run, 2 RBIs, and a run.
- Trevor Finan (1) got the save, pitching 3.0 innings, allowing 4 hits, and 2 runs, while striking out 4, and walked 1.
- Ross Friedrick batted 2-5, having a double, an RBI, and 2 runs.
- Braden Golinski batted 2-5, with a home run, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs.
- Lafayette starter Pat Walega (No Decision), working 4.0 innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 runs, and 2 earned runs, while striking out 5, and walking 5.
- Adam Bogosian (2-6) got the loss, pitching 0.1 inning, allowing 1 hit, 3 runs, had no strikeouts and walked 1.
- Antonio Correa worked 1.1 inning, allowing 2 hits, 3 runs, had no strikeouts, and walked 2.
- Chase Barley pitched 0.2 inning, allowing 1 hit, and 2 runs, while striking out 1, and walking 1.
Game 2
- Army starter Robbie Buecker (5-3) got the win, working 7.0 innings, allowing 1 hit, and 1 run, while striking out 4, and walking 4.
- Braden Golinski had a hit, a double, and a run.
- Coleson Titus batted 2-4 and had 2 RBIs.
- Ross Friedrick had a hit and a run.
- Ethan Ellis batted 1-1 with an RBI and a run.
- Chris Barr batted 1-3 and had an RBI.
- Patrick Melampy pitched 2.0 innings, allowing 2 hits, and no runs, while striking out 1, and walked 1.
- Lafayette starter Joe Skapinetz (2-4) got the loss, working 3.0 innings, allowing 4 hits, and 3 runs, while striking out 3, and walking 3.
- Adam Bogosian pitched 1.2 inning, allowing 2 hits, and 1 run, while striking out 3, and walked 1.
- Jacob Maurer worked 1.2 inning, allowing 1 hit, and 1 run, while striking out 3, and walked 1.
Up Next
The #1-seeded Black Knights will return to Doubleday Field to host the #2-seeded Bucknell in the Patriot League Championships. Saturday, May 21.
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ruggieri, Mike (8-1)
L: Adam Bogosian (2-6)
S: Finan, Trevor (1)
Batting:
2B: Easton Brenner 1 ; Ben Petrone 1
HR: Pete Ciuffreda 1 ; Justin Grech 1 ; Ethan Swidler 1
RBI: Pete Ciuffreda 2 ; Justin Grech 1 ; Ben Petrone 1 ; Ethan Swidler 1 ; Blaze Fadio 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Easton Brenner 1 ; Pete Ciuffreda 1 ; Justin Grech 1 ; Kyle Chmielewski 1 ; Ben Petrone 1 ; Ethan Swidler 1
PO: Blaze Fadio 1
Batting:
2B: Friedrick, Ross 1 ; Ellis, Ethan 1 ; Ainsworth, Addison 2 ; Barr, Chris 1
3B: Barr, Chris 1
HR: Berg, Derek 1 ; Ruta, Sam 1 ; Golinski, Braden 1 ; Titus, Coleson 1
RBI: Berg, Derek 2 ; Ruta, Sam 2 ; Friedrick, Ross 1 ; Golinski, Braden 2 ; Titus, Coleson 3 ; Ainsworth, Addison 2 ; Barr, Chris 2
SH: Barr, Chris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Berg, Derek 1 ; Ruta, Sam 3 ; Dubrule, Kevin 1 ; Friedrick, Ross 2 ; Golinski, Braden 2 ; Titus, Coleson 1 ; Ellis, Ethan 1 ; Ainsworth, Addison 3 ; Barr, Chris 1
CS: Berg, Derek 2
HBP: Ainsworth, Addison 1
