Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
33-15, 20-4
Lafayette College
14-35, 10-14
Army Sweeps Lafayette in Regular Season Finale Doubleheader
May 07, 2023 | Baseball
EASTON, Pa. – The Army West Point baseball team (34-15, 21-4 PL) defeated the Lafayette College Leopards (14-35, 10-15, PL) 21-6 in Game 1 of Sunday afternoon's doubleheader. Junior Derek Berg batted 3-5, with a home run, a double, six RBIs, and two runs.
In Game 2, the Black Knights defeated the Leopards 7-1. Army's Braden Golinski batted 3-5, having a home run, a triple, four RBIs, and a run.
How it Happened
GAME 1 (Army Wins 21-6)
The Black Knights attacked Lafayette starter Trace Florio (L, 0-5) in the top of the first inning. With one out, junior Sam Ruta hit a solo home run to right field, giving Army a 1-0 lead. With two outs, Ross Friedrick ripped a single to left field, putting a runner on first. Lafayette cleared the side, after Braden Golinski reached first on a fielder's choice, tagging Friedrick out at second.
In the bottom of the first, the Leopards threatened the Army starter Mike Ruggieri (W, 7-1). Leadoff hitter Easton Brenner hit a leadoff double to left center, putting a runner in scoring position. With two outs, Michael Zarrillo walked, putting runners on first and second. The Black Knights ended the inning with a pop-up.
Army extended its lead in the top of the second. With one out, freshman Ethan Ellis ripped a double down the left field line, putting a runner in scoring position. William Parker hit a sacrifice fly, sending Ellis across the plate, making it a 2-0 lead. The Leopards retired the side with a fly-out.
The Black Knights got out in order in the top of the third.
Lafayette threatened Army in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Pete Ciuffreda walked, putting a runner on first. Zarrillo walked, putting runners on first and second. Lafayette got on the board, with an RBI single by Seif Ingram, advancing Zarillo to second, and sending Ciuffredia in to score, making it a 2-1 game. Justin Grech walked, loading the bases. Ruggieri got out of the bases-loaded jam, with a strikeout.
The bats came alive for the Black Knights in the top of the fourth. Leadoff hitter, Ross Friedrick hit a single to right field, putting a runner on first. Braden Golinski reached first on an error by right fielder Pete Ciuffredia, putting runners on first and second. Coleson Titus reached first on an error by Trace Florio, Titus advanced to third, and Golinski and Friedrick came in to score, making it a 4-1 game. Ethan Ellis hit an RBI single to right field, sending Titus across the plate, giving Army a 5-1 lead. William Parker ripped a single to third, advancing Ellis to second. Relief pitcher James Reese came into the game for Trace Florio. Army had two runners in scoring position after Parker and Ellis advanced on a wild pitch by Reese. Chris Barr ripped a two-RBI single to right field, giving the Black Knights a 7-1 lead. Barr stole second, putting a runner in scoring position. Barr then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Derek Berg blasted a two-run home run to left field, giving the Black Knights a 9-1 lead. With one out, Dubrule walked putting a runner on first. Friedrick blasted a two-run home run to right field, giving the Black Knights a dominating 11-1 lead. With two outs, Titus ripped a double to right center, putting a runner in scoring position. Titus advanced to third on a wild pitch. Antonio Correa came in to pitch relief for James Reese. Ellis ripped an RBI single to center field, sending Titus across the plate, making it a 12-1 game. William Parker hit a single left field, putting runners on first and second. Barr reached first on an error by third baseman Seif Ingram, advancing runners to second and third. Barr advanced to second on a wild pitch, advancing Parker to third, and sending Ellis in to score, making it a 13-1 game. Berg ripped a two-RBI double down the right field line, giving Army a 15-1 lead. After a hit by pitch, the Leopards retired the side with a fly-out.
Lafayette threatened Ruggieri in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Justin Weiss hit a double to right center, putting a runner in scoring position. Army cleared the side with a fly-out and a strikeout.
In the bottom of the fifth, Bryce Brownlee came in to pitch relief for Mike Ruggieri. Pete Ciuffreda ripped a single to right field, putting a runner on first. With two outs, Justin Grech hit a double down the left field line, putting runners on the corners. Brownlee ended the inning with a strikeout.
In the top of the sixth, Army added five runs on the board, giving the Black Knights a 20-1 lead.
The Leopards cut into the Black Knights lead in the bottom of the sixth. Kyle Chmielewski hit a leadoff single to right field, putting a runner on first. Ben Petrone blasted a two-run home run, making it a 20-3 game. Ciuffreda walked putting a runner on first. Zarrillo hit a two-run home run to right field making it a 20-5 game. Andrew Berg came into the game for Bryce Brownlee. Ingram ripped a double to left center, putting a runner in scoring position. Grech made it a 20-6 game after hitting an RBI single to left field, sending Ingram in to score. Berg ended the inning with a strikeout.
In the top of the seventh, Zac Farrell came into the game for William Parker. Farrell hit a leadoff double to left center, putting a runner in scoring position. With one out, Carter Hewitt came into the game for Sam Ruta. Berg hit an RBI single to center field, sending Farrell across the plate, giving Army a 21-6 lead. Hewitt hit a single to center field, advancing Berg to third. Hewitt was tagged out at second by Ben Petrone. Lafayette cleared the side with a groundout.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Petrone ripped a single to center field putting a runner on first. With two outs, Army secured the win with Ciuffreda fouling out to Hewitt.
Game 2 (Army wins 7-1)
The Black Knights immediately attacked Lafayette starter Joe Skapinetz (L, 2-3). Berg reached first on an error by first baseman Kyle Chmielewski. Sam Ruta reached first on a fielder's choice, Berg was tagged out at second by Blaze Fadio. Senior Kevin Dubrule hit a single to center field, putting runners on the corners. Ross Friedrick hit an RBI single to left field, advancing Dubrule to second, and sending Ruta in to score, giving Army a 1-0 lead. Braden Golinski ripped an RBI single to right field, sending Dubrule in to score and advancing Friedrick to second, putting a runner in scoring position. With two outs, the Black Knights loaded the bases, after Ethan Ellis was hit by a pitch. The Leopards retired the side with a pop-up.
Lafayette threatened Army starter Sean Dennehy (No Decision) in the bottom of the first. With one out, Pete Ciuffreda hit a single to first, putting a runner on first. With two outs, Ciuffreda advanced to third on a wild pitch. The Black Knights ended the inning with a groundout.
In the top of the second, Army threatened to extend its lead. With one out, Berg walked, putting a runner on first. Berg stole second, putting a runner in scoring position. Ruta walked, putting runners on first and second. The Black Knights loaded the bases after Dubrule was hit by a pitch. The Leopards cleared the side with Friedrick lining out to Petrone and a groundout.
Lafayette got out in order in the bottom of the second.
In the bottom of the third, the Leopards threatened the Black Knights. With two outs, Easton Brenner walked, putting a runner on first. Brenner advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting a runner in scoring position. Ciuffreda walked putting runners on first and second. Dennehy retired the side with a strikeout.
Army extended its lead in the top of the fourth. With one out, Kevin Dubrule walked, putting a runner on first. Dubrule advanced to second on a passed ball, putting a runner in scoring position. Friedrick hit a fly ball to center field, advancing Dubrule to third. Braden Golinski ripped an RBI triple to right center, sending Dubrule across the plate, giving the Black Knights a 3-0 lead. Lafayette cleared the side with a fly-out.
Trevor Finan (W, 1-0) came in to pitch relief for Sean Dennehy.
Chase Barley came in to pitch relief for Joe Skapinetz. The bats came alive for Army in the top of the fifth. Leadoff hitter Ethan Ellis hit a single to center field, putting a runner on first. Freshman Addison Ainsworth ripped a single to first, advancing Ellis to second, putting a runner in scoring position. With one out, Derek Berg walked, loading the bases. Ruta grounded out to Barley, advancing Berg and Ainsworth to second and third, and sending Ellis in to score, giving the Black Knights a 4-0 lead. The Leopards cleared the side with a fly-out.
In the bottom of the fifth, Lafayette began its comeback attempt. Chmielewski hit a double down the left field line, putting a runner in scoring position. With one out, Ben Petrone ripped an RBI double to centerfield, sending Chmielewski across the plate, making it a 4-1 game. Finan retired the side with a strikeout.
The bats stayed hot for Army. Ross Friedrick was hit by a pitch, putting a runner on first. Golinski blasted a two-run home run to left field, giving the Black Knights a 6-1 lead. With two outs, Ainsworth was hit by a pitch, putting a runner on first. The Leopards cleared the side with a fly-out.
In the bottom of the sixth, Lafayette threatened Finan. Michael Zarrillo walked, putting a runner on first. With one out, Zarrillo advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting a runner in scoring position. Army ended the inning with a fly-out and a groundout.
The Black Knights got out in order in the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Leopards threatened Army. Leadoff hitter Chmielewski hit a single to left center putting a runner on first. With one out, Tyler Prichard came in to pitch relief for Trevor Finan. Ben Petrone reached on a fielder's choice, putting a runner on first, and Chmielewski was tagged at second by Chris Barr. With two outs, the Black Knights retired the side with a pop-up.
Relief pitcher Adam Bogosian came in to pitch relief for Chase Barley.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, Bennett Smith hit a single to right field, putting a runner on first. Ethan Ellis ripped a single to left center, advancing Smith to third, and putting a runner in scoring position. Army made it a 7-1 game, after Smith came in to score, Ellis was tagged out by Blaze Fadio, retiring the side.
The Leopards got out in order in the bottom of the eighth.
The Black Knights threatened Bogosian in the top of the ninth. Addison Ainsworth walked, putting a runner on first. Bret Copeland came in to pinch-hit for Chris Barr. With one out, Derek Berg ripped a single to right field, putting runners on first and second. Lafayette cleared the side with Ruta flying out to center field, and Ben Petrone tagging Berg out at second.
In the bottom of the ninth, Army secured the win, with two strikeouts, and a groundout.
Inside the Box
Game 1
- Army starter Mike Ruggieri (7-1), got the win, pitching 4.0 innings, allowing 3 hits, and 1 run, while striking out 3, and walking 4.
- Derek Berg batted 3-5 with a run, a double, 6 RBIs, and 2 runs.
- With their 58th home run of the season, the Black Knights set a new program record for home runs in a single season.
- Senior Ross Friedrick went 3-5, having a home run, 2 RBIs, and two runs.
- Sam Ruta batted 2-4, with a home run, a double, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs.
- Bryce Brownlee pitched 1.2 inning, allowing 5 hits, and 4 runs, while striking out 1, and walked 1.
- Coleson Titus had 2 hits, a double, and 2 runs.
- Freshman Ethan Ellis batted 3-5 with a double, 2 RBIs, and 4 runs.
- Freshman Andrew Berg worked 1.1 inning, allowing 3 hits, and 1 run, while striking out 1, and had no walks.
- Lafayette starter Trace Florio (0-5) got the loss, pitching 3.0 innings, allowing 6 hits, 7 runs, 3 earned runs, and had no walks or strikeouts.
- Relief pitcher James Reese worked 0.2 inning, allowing 4 hits, 5 runs, and 2 earned runs, while striking out 1, and walked 1.
- Relief pitcher Antonio Correa pitched 1.0 inning, allowing 4 hits, 8 runs, 4 earned runs, had no strikeouts, and walked 3.
- Kyle Chmielewski worked 2.0 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 run, and had no walks or strikeouts.
Game 2
- Army starter Sean Dennehy (No Decision) pitched 3.0 innings, allowing 1 hit, and no runs, while striking out 5, and walking 2.
- Braden Golinski batted 3-5 with a home run, a triple, 4 RBIs, and a run.
- Freshman Ethan Ellis went 2-4 and had a run.
- Ross Friedrick had a hit, an RBI, and a run.
- Trevor Finan (1-0) got the win, working 3.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, and 1 run, while striking out 2, and walked 1.
- Senior Tyler Prichard pitched 2.2 innings, allowing no hits, runs, or walks, while striking out 3.
- Lafayette starter Joe Skapinetz (2-3) got the loss, working 4.0 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, and 1 earned run, while striking out 1, and walking 3.
- Chase Barley pitched 3.0 innings, allowing 3 hits, and 3 runs, while striking out 1, and walked 1.
- Relief pitcher Adam Bogosian worked 2.0 innings, allowing 3 this, 1 run, while striking out 1, and walked 1.
Up Next
The Black Knights will return to Doubleday Field to host Lafayette in the Patriot League Tournament Semifinals on Friday, May 13-14.
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 (7-1)
L: Trace Florio (0-5)
Batting:
2B: Berg, Derek 1 ; Ruta, Sam 1 ; Titus, Coleson 1 ; Ellis, Ethan 1 ; Farrell, Zac 1
HR: Berg, Derek 1 ; Ruta, Sam 1 ; Friedrick, Ross 1
RBI: Berg, Derek 6 ; Ruta, Sam 3 ; Dubrule, Kevin 2 ; Friedrick, Ross 2 ; Ellis, Ethan 2 ; Parker, William 1 ; Barr, Chris 2
SF: Parker, William 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Berg, Derek 2 ; Ruta, Sam 2 ; Dubrule, Kevin 1 ; Friedrick, Ross 2 ; Golinski, Braden 1 ; Titus, Coleson 2 ; Ellis, Ethan 4 ; Parker, William 3 ; Farrell, Zac 1 ; Barr, Chris 3
SB: Barr, Chris 1
HBP: Ruta, Sam 1
Batting:
2B: Easton Brenner 1 ; Seif Ingram 1 ; Justin Grech 1 ; Justin Weiss 1
HR: Michael Zarrillo 1 ; Ben Petrone 1
RBI: Michael Zarrillo 2 ; Seif Ingram 1 ; Justin Grech 1 ; Ben Petrone 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Pete Ciuffreda 2 ; Michael Zarrillo 1 ; Seif Ingram 1 ; Kyle Chmielewski 1 ; Ben Petrone 1
CS: Easton Brenner 1
HBP: Blaze Fadio 1
