Black Knight Baseball Set for Season Opener in North Carolina

CARY, N.C. – A new season is upon Army West Point Baseball.

The Black Knights begin their quest for a sixth consecutive NCAA Regional berth Friday in Cary, N.C. at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. The squad will open with a 4:00 p.m. game Friday night against the Monmouth Hawks, before facing Penn State at 12:00 p.m. Saturday. Army will conclude the weekend Sunday with games against both teams (10:00 a.m. vs. Monmouth; 1:30 p.m. vs. Penn State).

USABaseball.TV will stream each game. Fans can go to the website and create a login to watch.

Notes and Storylines

» Army West Point Baseball commences its 131^st season Friday, and goes into the 2024 campaign with an all-time record of 1866-1546-41.

» Army is 4-1 in its most recent season openers. The Black Knights also seek their first win over a Power Five program since 2022, when they knocked off Pitt in Fayetteville, N.C.

» The Black Knights are five-time defending Patriot League Tournament Champions, and will seek a sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2024. Army possesses the longest active streak of consecutive conference tournament titles in NCAA Division I Baseball.

» Army was pegged to win the Patriot League again in 2024, and swept the preseason conference awards. Senior RHP Mike Ruggieri was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year, senior INF Sam Ruta was tabbed Preseason Player of the Year and senior C earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

» Head Coach Chris Tracz enters his second year at the helm on the banks of the Hudson River. The former pitcher at Marist College oversaw a historic season in 2023. The Black Knights won 38 games, most since 2005, when the squad won 39. Tracz earned Patriot League Gene Depew Coach of the Year honors a season ago.

» Associate head coach Mike Cole returns for his second season on Tracz's staff, as does assistant coach Franklin Jennings, who was promoted from the role of volunteer assistant in the offseason. Additionally, Tracz added John Sheehan to the staff from Toledo as assistant coach.

» The 2023 team hit a program record 74 home runs, led by Ross Friedrick, whose 17 homers were most by a Black Knight player in a single season. The Alpharetta, Ga. native signed a minor league free agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals after the season.

» Army went 5-0 against Navy in 2023, was 2-1 against Air Force and was 2-1 over eventual NCAA Regional finalist Charlotte.

» The Black Knights took home the lion's share of last season's Patriot League postseason awards. Senior infielder Kevin Debrule was named the conference's Player and Defensive Player of the Year, while Tanner Gresham garnered Pitcher of the Year accolades.

» Army finished 2023 with an RPI of 92, higher than anyone on the 2024 schedule. Of all teams the Black Knights face in 2024, Georgia State's RPI of 98 in 2023 ranks highest.

Behind Enemy Lines

» Monmouth is coming off a 16-30 season in 2023, which included a 6-22 mark in the Coastal (formerly Colonial) Athletic Association. It was its first year in the league, moving from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

The Hawks are led by head coach Dean Ehehalt, who enters his 31^st season in West Long Branch, N.J. Catcher Phil Stahl returns for his graduate student season, after leading the team with a .346 AVG and recording five home runs. Monmouth's next two top hitters from '23 also return (OF Eric Sabato and INF Austin Denlinger).

» Penn State enters a new era of its program, with head coach Mike Gambino taking the reins in the Keystone State after 13 years in the same capacity at Boston College.

The Nittany Lions finished 25-25 last year with a 7-16 Big Ten Conference record. Sophomore Bobby Marsh is PSU's top returning hitter, batting .310 with six home runs last campaign. Senior Kyle Hanon also returns after a .293 year at the plate in '23 with a team-leading seven home runs.

Penn State's top two pitchers by innings pitched from last season return. Junior RHP Jaden Henline tossed a 4.70 ERA with 35 strikeouts across 61.1 innings pitched, 15 appearances and nine starts. And Senior RHP Travis Luensmann recorded a 4.35 ERA over 14 total games, six of them being starts. His 59 strikeouts were also a team-high in '23.

Series History

Army last saw each of these teams in 2016, coincidentally in Cary, N.C. as well on the season's opening weekend.

The Black Knights are 7-7 all-time against Monmouth, last seeing the Hawks in a 6-5 win in 2016. The Black Knights meanwhile are 8-20 against Penn State, having dropped a pair of matchups to the Big Ten Conference foe in 2016.

Next Up

The Black Knights hit the road again next weekend for a trio of games at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla. Army will play Fordham Friday and Stetson Saturday evening before concluding the weekend Sunday morning against Maine.

Follow the Black Knights

Follow Army Baseball on X @ArmyWP_Baseball and on Instagram @armywp_baseball. Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about baseball and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com.

Black Knight Baseball Set for Season Opener in North Carolina

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Players Mentioned

Ross Friedrick

Tanner Gresham

Mike Ruggieri

Sam Ruta

Army West Point Athletics