Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader at Georgia State

Sunday, March 10

Atlanta, Ga.

11 AM

Army West Point

6-7

Georgia State

8-7

Army

Georgia State

Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader at Georgia State

March 10, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Cumulative Stats

DECATUR, Ga. – Army West Point Baseball was looking to recover from a pair of close losses at Georgia State Friday and Saturday, and did just that Sunday with a doubleheader sweep at GSU Baseball Complex.

The Black Knights (7-7) will go home with an overall series split, heading into this week's home opener.

Game 1

A high-scoring Game 1 finished 13-8 in favor of the Black Knights. Sam Ruta was 4-for-5 with two home runs, Derek Berg was 3-for-5 with four RBIs and two home runs, and Ethan Ellis added three RBIs.

Army pounced to an early 4-0 lead in the seven-inning contest, with Ellis and Coleson Titus RBIs in the opening frame.

Sam Ruta had a solo home run in the second and Derek Berg followed in the fourth, for Army to go ahead 6-5.

Trailing entering the fifth, Paul Andrzejewski gave the Black Knights the lead back with a squeeze bunt RBI, and Berg followed with a three-run homer. Braden Golinski bow-tied the inning with an RBI single to make it 12-7.

Ruta's second home run gave Army permanent separation in the seventh inning. On the mound, Steven Graver went three innings and struck out five in his first start of the season. Bryce Brownlee tossed the remaining four frames and earned the win.

Game 2

A seven-run fourth inning highlighted the Black Knights' showing in Game 2, as Army cruised to an 11-3 win in eight innings.

Ellis scored the game's first run in the second on a passed ball, and had the contest's first RBIs in the fourth, on a double to score Justin Lehman and William Parker.

Later in the fourth, Berg singled through the left side for two RBIs, Golinski walked with the bases loaded and Parker came to bat for the second time in the frame to make it 8-0 Army by driving in a pair.

Lehman started on the mound and pitched four innings, with an unearned run allowed and three strikeouts. Dom Trippi, Joe Valchar, Mark Abell and Andrew Berg each pitched in relief.

After three unanswered runs from Georgia State in the forth and fifth, Andrzejewski brought home two Black Knights in the seventh, and Thomas Schreck added an RBI in the eighth to put the game out of reach for the Panthers.

By the Numbers

6: Derek Berg had six total RBIs across both games.

5-for-7: Ruta was 5-for-7 overall Sunday, with two RBIs and three walks.

5: Ellis compiled five RBIs across the doubleheader.

7: Lehman was 0-for-1 in each game, but totaled seven walks Sunday (Three in Game 1; Four in Game 2). He crossed the plate twice in each matchup.

Black Knight Notes

Army improves to 3-1 on days with more than one game, and 3-0 in sub-nine inning games.

Andrzejewski earned his first career starts Sunday, playing second base in both games.

Head coach Chris Tracz's lineup card included a pitcher in the starting batting order for the first time this season, with Lehman getting the nod in Game 2 at both pitcher and DH.

Berg has reached base 13 games in a row, with Parker following closely with a 12-game on-base streak.

Next Up

Army will look toward Wednesday's home opener against UAlbany at Doubleday Field. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. with the game to be streamed on ESPN+.

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.