Baseball’s Rally Falls Short Saturday Against Penn State

Saturday, February 17

Cary, N.C.

12 PM

Army West Point

1-1

Penn State

2-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Army	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	7	0
Penn State	0	0	0	2	1	1	0	0	X	4	11	1

Baseball’s Rally Falls Short Saturday Against Penn State

February 17, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score Cumulative Stats

CARY, N.C. – With Army West Point Baseball down three runs in the top of the eighth, Sam Ruta made it a one-run game on a single swing with a two-run home run. However, the Black Knights left a pair in scoring position later in the frame, and wouldn't get any closer to tying the game in a 4-3 loss Saturday to the Penn State Nittany Lions at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.

Army drew first blood for the second day in a row. Chris Barr tripled on the game's first pitch, and Ruta followed with an RBI groundout quickly to put the Black Knights (1-1) up 1-0.

Starting pitcher Mike Ruggieri kept the PSU bats in check in the matchup's first three innings, working a 1-2-3 frame in the first and allowing just two hits in the game's opening third.

However, a two out, two-run single gave the Nittany Lions a lead in the fourth inning, which stood through the remainder of Saturday's contest.

Ruggieri finished the contest with 4.0 innings, two earned runs and four strikeouts.

PSU added runs in the fifth and sixth innings to jump ahead 4-1, before stranding a pair of runners in the seventh to keep the game within reach for Army.

By the Numbers

3: Ruta had all three RBIs in Saturday's game.

2-for-5: Ruta and Barr each went 2-for-5 at the plate.

4: The top four in the lineup each had at least one hit.

3.0: RHP Steven Graver logged three innings out of the bullpen in his 2024 debut.

1.0: RHP Trey Ates made his Black Knight debut on the mound, delivering a scoreless eighth inning.

Black Knight Notes

Ruta and Thomas Schreck have hits in each game this season, with Berg and Braden Golinski also reaching base in both games.

Opposing teams are hitting just .158 with runners in scoring position.

Next Up

Army will conclude the weekend in North Carolina by facing Monmouth and Penn State again Sunday, with first pitch times of 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in Cary.

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.