Baseball Slugs Its Way Past LIU in Midweek Battle

Tuesday, May 2

West Point, NY

3:30 PM

Army West Point

31-14

LIU

15-27

Long Island

Army West Point

Baseball Slugs Its Way Past LIU in Midweek Battle

May 02, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y.– The Army West Point baseball team (31-14, 18-3 PL) defeated the LIU Sharks (15-27, 13-8, MAAC) 17-6 Tuesday afternoon. Junior Braden Golinski batted 5-5 with two home runs, two doubles, five RBIs, and three runs.

How it Happened
LIU attacked Army starter Dom Trippi (No Decision) in the top of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Max Samson walked, putting a runner on first. With one out, Jake Mastillo struck out, and Samson stole second, putting a runner in scoring position. Jack Power walked, putting runners on first and second. JC Navarro hit a three-run home run, giving the Sharks a 3-0 lead. Army retired the side with a fly-out.

The Black Knights responded in the bottom of the first, attacking LIU starter Tatsuya Uemoto (L, 0-3). Leadoff hitter Chris Barr ripped a single to right field, putting a runner on first. Barr advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting a runner in scoring position. Sam Ruta walked, putting runners on first and second. Army tied up the ballgame with senior Kevin Dubrule blasting a three-run home run to left field, making it a 3-3 game. With one out, Centerfielder Braden Golinski hit a solo home run to right field, giving the Black Knights a 4-3 lead. LIU ended the inning with a strikeout and a pop-up.

In the top of the second, leadoff hitter Connor Price hit a single to third, putting a runner on first. Price advanced to second on a groundout, putting a runner in scoring position. With two outs, Samson struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch, Price advanced to third, putting runners on the corners. The Sharks had a double steal, with Samson stealing second, and Price stealing home, making it a 4-4 game. Relief pitcher Joe Valchar (W, 2-0) came into the game for Dom Trippi. Jarod Wade walked, putting runners on first and second. Valchar cleared the side with a groundout.

Army responded in the bottom of the second. Leadoff hitter Carter Hewitt struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch. Hewitt advanced to second on a passed ball, putting a runner in scoring position. The Black Knights had runners on first and second after Ethan Ellis walked. Chris Barr ripped an RBI single up the middle and advanced to second on the throw, Ellis advanced to third, and Hewitt came in to score, giving Army a 5-4 lead. Justin DeCastro came in to pitch relief for Tatsuya Uemoto. Sam Ruta hit a 2-RBI single to right field, sending Ellis and Barr across the plate, making it a 7-4 game. With one out, senior Ross Friedrick ripped a double to center field, advancing Ruta to third, putting two runners in scoring position. Golinski made it a 9-4 game, after hitting a double to right field. The Sharks ended the inning with a groundout and a strikeout.

LIU made it a 9-5 game in the top of the third inning after Jack Power hit a leadoff homerun. JC Navarro was hit by a pitch, putting a runner on first. With two outs, Bentley Boekhout ripped an RBI double to left field, making it a 9-6 game. Valchar cleared the side with a strikeout.

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

The Sharks were retired in order in the top of the fourth.

In the bottom of the fourth, Tucker LeMay went to second base for Jarod Wade and Wade went to center field for Max Samson. Leadoff hitter Sam Ruta ripped a triple to center field, putting a runner in scoring position. Ruta came in to score on a groundout, giving Army a 10-6 lead. With two outs, Braden Golinski blasted a solo home run to right field, making it an 11-6 game. DeCastro ended the inning with a strikeout.

LIU threatened the Black Knights in the top of the fifth. Seth Surrett hit a single to center field with two outs, putting a runner on first. Connor Price was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. Army retired the side with a Boekohout fouling out.

Jack Vandoran came into the game for Justin DeCastro.

In the top of the sixth, junior Steven Graver came in to pitch relief for Joe Valchar. Christopher Hund walked, putting a runner on first. With one out, LeMay reached on a fielder's choice, and Hund was tagged out at second. The Black Knights cleared the side with a fly-out.

The bats came alive for Army in the bottom of the sixth. Ruta hit a single to right field with one out, putting a runner on first. Chris Mazza came into the game for Jack Vandoran. Dubrule was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. Relief pitcher Evan Panjwani came in to pitch relief for Chris Mazza. Ross Friedrick blasted a three-run home run to left field, giving the Black Knights a 14-6 lead. Golinski hit a single to left center, putting a runner on first. Golinski advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting a runner in scoring position. On a throwing error by Panjwani, Golinski advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. With two outs, Parker walked, putting runners on the corners. LIU retired the side with a groundout.

In the top of the seventh, Will Parker went to right field for Ethan Ellis, and Zac Farrell went to left field for Parker. The Sharks threatened the Black Knights' defense. Navarro hit a single to left field with one out, putting a runner on first. With two outs Price hit a double down the left field line, putting runners on the corners. Relief pitcher Will Hart came in to pitch relief for Steven Graver. Boekhout was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Hund reached on a fielder's choice, and Boekhout was tagged out at second, retiring the side.

Ty McInness came in to relief for Evan Panjwani in the bottom of the seventh.

Army continued to dominate the field in the bottom of the eighth. Kevin Dubrule ripped a single to shortstop, putting a runner on first. Dubrule advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting a runner in scoring position. Friedrick hit an RBI single to center field, sending Dubrule in to score, making it a 15-6 game. Golinski ripped an RBI double to right center, sending Friedrick across the plate, giving the Black Knights a 16-6 lead. Golinski advanced to third on a groundout, and William Parker hit a sacrifice fly to center field, sending Golinski in to score, making it a 17-6 game. The Sharks cleared the side with a pop-up.

Trevor Finan came in to pitch relief for Will Hart in the top of the ninth. Seth Surrett hit a single to center field with one out, putting a runner on first. With two outs, Kyle Matthews came in to pinch-hit for Bentley Boekhout. Finan secured the win for the Black Knights with a strikeout.

Inside the Box

Army starter Dom Trippi (No Decision) pitched 1.2 inning, allowing 2 hits, and 4 runs, while striking out 3, and walking 2.
Braden Golinski had a career-high 5 hits, having 2 home runs, 2 doubles, 5 RBIs, and 3 runs.
Senior Ross Friedrick batted 3-5 with a home run, a double, 4 RBIs, and 3 runs.
Joe Valchar (2-0) got the win, working 3.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, and 2 runs, while striking out 3, and walked 1.
Sam Ruta went 3-4, having a triple, 2 RBIs, and 4 runs.
Kevin Dubrule batted 2-4, with a home run, 4 RBIs, and 3 runs.
Steven Graver pitched 1.2 inning, allowing 2 hits, no runs, while striking out 3, and walked 1.
Will Hart worked 1.1 inning, allowing 1 hit, no runs, and walked 1.
Relief pitcher Trevor Finan pitched 1.0 inning, allowing 1 hit, and no runs, while striking out 2, and had no walks.
LIU starter Tatsuya (0-3) got the loss, working 1.0 inning, allowing 4 hits, 7 runs, and 6 earned runs, while striking out 2, and walking 2.
Justin DeCastro worked 3.0 innings, allowing 5 hits, and 4 runs, while striking out 2, and had no walks.
Relief pitcher Ty McInnes pitched 2.0 innings, allowing 3 hits, and 3 runs, while striking out 1, and had no walks.

Cadet's Corner

??? "The bats really came alive."

Braden Golinski on today's midweek win against LIU.#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/HgYtwNxD7L
— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) May 2, 2023

Up Next
The Black Knights will hit the road to face Lehigh in a doubleheader on Saturday, May 6 at 12 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.