Softball Drops a Pair of Games to Rutgers and FIU

Friday, February 16

Miami, Fla.

10:00 AM

Army West Point

0-5

Rutgers

5-1

Rutgers

Army

Softball Drops a Pair of Games to Rutgers and FIU

February 16, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

MIAMI, Fla. – The Army West Point softball team (0-7) was back in action in Florida on Friday morning in the Panther Invitational hosted by Florida International University. In Game one of the doubleheader, Army was no-hit by Rutgers University (5-1), falling 2-0. In Game 2, Army fell 5-4 to FIU (4-4).

Game 1 vs. Rutgers:

Rutgers starting pitcher Mattie Boyd (3-0) was masterful, throwing a complete game no-hitter while striking out nine Army batters. Boyd walked two batters.

The Scarlet Knights got all the run support they needed in the game platting two runs in the top half of the first inning on RBI doubles by Katie Wingert and Jillian Matthews to take an early 2-0 advantage.

Following the first inning, Army starter Amanda Eaglin (0-3) settled into her groove throwing six scoreless innings, in a complete game effort. Her final line read as giving up four hits, two runs, striking out five and walking five.

Game 2 vs. FIU:

Army broke through on the scoring column on the day when senior Kayla Edwards had a two-run single to break a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning that platted Ellie Caldwell and Lauren Little.

The Black Knights tacked on another when Julia Farris had an RBI bunt single in the fourth to extend the lead, to 3-0.

Army starter Olivia Farris (0-3) threw four scoreless innings, only allowing two hits to keep FIU at bay.

However, in the fifth, the Panther bats got to Farris, as they loaded the bases on three straight hits, a double and two singles and scored their first run when Farris walked in Isabella Perez.

With the bases loaded, Coach Jen Consaul turned to Breanna Izzo to work out of the jam. Izzo surrendered an RBI single by Ella Whitney to score another and walked in another to tie the game at 3-3. An RBI groundout by Bail Grossenbacher gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead, striking for four runs in the inning.

Olivia Farris was charged with all four earned runs and five hits and Izzo was charged with just a hit and a walk when she entered.

In the sixth, FIU scored another run on an error by first baseman Ashton White to extend its lead, 5-3.

Needing a rally in the seventh, the Army bats strung together three consecutive hits by Caldwell, Parker Llantero and Edwards to load the bases with no outs.

Army would score on a sac fly by Sophie Smith to pull within one run, 5-4 but could not fully capitalize on the bases loaded, no outs opportunity.

Edwards was 4-for-4 with two RBI as a bright spot in the Black Knights lineup. Caldwell and Llantero also had multi-hit performances.

Up Next: Army will be back in action tomorrow morning vs. #10 Duke at 10am and then play a second game in the tournament portion at either 3pm or 5:30pm depending on the final seeding between the four teams in the pool play stage.