Baseball Splits Sunday’s Games

Sunday, February 18

Cary, N.C.

10 AM

Army West Point

2-1

Monmouth

1-3

ARMY West Point

Monmouth

Baseball Splits Sunday’s Games

February 18, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Cumulative Stats

CARY, N.C. – Army Black Knights Baseball concluded its weekend slate of games Sunday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, defeating the Monmouth Hawks in the morning matchup before falling to the Penn State Nittany Lions in the afternoon cap.

Sam Ruta had a home run in each game, and now had three homers through four games.

Army moves to 2-2 in 2024, after previously splitting its first two games Friday and Saturday to the same teams in Cary, N.C.

Game 1 vs. Monmouth

It was all about the bats and Bryce Brownlee as the Black Knights took down Monmouth 10-1 in Game 1 Sunday.

Brownlee earned the win, tossing 5.2 innings scoreless on four strikeouts, and allowing just five total baserunners. The junior from Arkansas had a plethora of run support from the Army lineup, which recorded eight hits and showed plate discipline with seven walks.

Ruta was 4-for-5, had a two-run home run, and finished with four RBIs. Carter Hewitt and Braden Golinski drew two walks each as the Black Knights cruised over the CAA squad.

RHP Joe Valchar came out of the bullpen for three strikeouts across 2.1 frames and plebe LHP Luke Marino made his Army debut with a scoreless ninth inning.

After Ruta's home run made it 2-0 in the third, the Black Knights opened the floodgates in the fifth with five runs. Ruta roped a bases-clearing double down the right field line for two runs, and a fielding error off the bat of Golinski plated another pair before the center fielder scored himself on a wild pitch.

Golinski scored his second run of the game in the seventh off a throwing error by the Monmouth catcher. After the Hawks scored their only run in the bottom of the seventh, Army closed the game in the ninth with bases loaded runs off a walk from Addison Ainsworth and a William Parker single.

Game 2 vs. Penn State

Army looked to carry its momentum into the second game, but fell behind early on its way to a 12-4 loss.

Penn State worked a quartet of free passes in the opening inning to take a 4-0 lead. The Nittany Lions added another run in the second inning and two in the third to go ahead 7-0.

The Black Knights made a push to get back in the game in the fourth and fifth innings, cutting the deficit to 7-4. Parker logged a bases loaded, two out single to open the Army scoring, before Ruta had his second two-run homer of the doubleheader.

However, PSU would reclaim momentum in the fifth with a three-run homer. They then tacked on another pair of runs in the seventh.

RHP Dom Trippi got the ball to start the game, handing it over to freshman Robbie Penswick in the opening frame. Joel Rubin entered in relief of Penswick after four innings, with Rubin, Andrew Berg and Mark Abell combining to finish the game on the mound.

By the Numbers

6: Ruta had a combined six RBI across the doubleheader, raising his season total to nine.

.118: Army's pitching held Sunday's opponents to a combined .118 AVG with runners in scoring position.

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.