Army West Point Athletics

Baseball Secures Doubleheader Sweep at Lafayette
April 13, 2024 | Baseball
EASTON, Pa. – Army West Point Baseball scored a combined 26 runs in its Patriot League doubleheader Saturday afternoon, on its way to taking both games against the Lafayette Leopards at Kamine Stadium.
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The Black Knights improve to 19-15 and are 9-4 in the Patriot League, winners of seven of their past nine games.Â
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Game 1
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A fast start and effective pitching set up Army for a 9-3 Game 1 win.
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Three straight walks to open the game culminated in a three-run double from William Parker as the Black Knights drew first blood. Sam Ruta added an RBI single the next at-bat, for a 4-0 lead before an out was recorded.Â
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After the Leopards answered with three runs in the second inning, Army recreated separation with a five-run fourth. Thomas Schreck, Chris Barr and Derek Berg each recorded RBI base knocks before Parker added to the lead with a sacrifice fly.Â
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Justin Lehman allowed three unearned runs in his five-inning start, striking out seven and receiving the win. Andrew Berg pitched the final two innings, striking out a pair and allowing no runs.Â
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Game 2
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Once again in Game 2, the Leopards scratched back from a quick Black Knight advantage. But for the second time Saturday, Army regrouped and cruised to victory, prevailing 17-5.
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Starting pitcher Mike Ruggieri struck out a career-high 10 batters, going five innings and earning his first win of the year.Â
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Matthew Ronnebaum took the save, retiring all 12 hitters faced across his four innings.Â
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Derek Berg poked a two-run homer to right field in the game's second at-bat to make it 2-0 in favor of the visiting club. Coleson Titus added an RBI later in the inning, Ethan Ellis had a sacrifice fly, and Titus came around to score on a wild pitch in the inning to round out the five-run frame.Â
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A Lafayette run in the second and a grand slam in the third tied the game, but Army regained the lead in the fifth, with a two-out rally highlighted by a Titus RBI single and an Ellis two-run double.Â
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A four-run sixth put the game out of reach for Lafayette. A Braden Golinski sacrifice fly proceeded a Ruta two-run double, before Ruta crossed the plate on a throing error to put Army up seven runs.Â
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By the Numbers
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23: Army had 23 combined hits Saturday.Â
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4: Four Black Knights had multiple hits in Game 2
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3: Ellis and Titus each had three RBIs in the second game, with Ellis going 3-for-5 and Titus going 3-for-6. Two of Ellis' hits were doubles.Â
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4: Barr drew four total walks across the twin bill, with three in Game 1. The sophomore followed with a 2-for-5 output in Game 2.Â
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5: Ruta reached base five times in Saturday's games, with a hit in each affair and three walks.Â
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Black Knight Notes
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Army's starting pitching has lasted five innings or longer in all but one of the club's 13 Patriot League games to date.Â
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The Black Knights have allowed six runs or fewer in each league game.Â
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Parker has reached base in 32 consecutive matchups.Â
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Next Up
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The teams are back Sunday to conclude the series, with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on ESPN+.
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Follow the Black Knights
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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.
Â
The Black Knights improve to 19-15 and are 9-4 in the Patriot League, winners of seven of their past nine games.Â
Â
Game 1
Â
A fast start and effective pitching set up Army for a 9-3 Game 1 win.
Â
Three straight walks to open the game culminated in a three-run double from William Parker as the Black Knights drew first blood. Sam Ruta added an RBI single the next at-bat, for a 4-0 lead before an out was recorded.Â
Â
After the Leopards answered with three runs in the second inning, Army recreated separation with a five-run fourth. Thomas Schreck, Chris Barr and Derek Berg each recorded RBI base knocks before Parker added to the lead with a sacrifice fly.Â
Â
Justin Lehman allowed three unearned runs in his five-inning start, striking out seven and receiving the win. Andrew Berg pitched the final two innings, striking out a pair and allowing no runs.Â
Â
Game 2
Â
Once again in Game 2, the Leopards scratched back from a quick Black Knight advantage. But for the second time Saturday, Army regrouped and cruised to victory, prevailing 17-5.
Â
Starting pitcher Mike Ruggieri struck out a career-high 10 batters, going five innings and earning his first win of the year.Â
Â
Matthew Ronnebaum took the save, retiring all 12 hitters faced across his four innings.Â
Â
Derek Berg poked a two-run homer to right field in the game's second at-bat to make it 2-0 in favor of the visiting club. Coleson Titus added an RBI later in the inning, Ethan Ellis had a sacrifice fly, and Titus came around to score on a wild pitch in the inning to round out the five-run frame.Â
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A Lafayette run in the second and a grand slam in the third tied the game, but Army regained the lead in the fifth, with a two-out rally highlighted by a Titus RBI single and an Ellis two-run double.Â
Â
A four-run sixth put the game out of reach for Lafayette. A Braden Golinski sacrifice fly proceeded a Ruta two-run double, before Ruta crossed the plate on a throing error to put Army up seven runs.Â
Â
By the Numbers
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23: Army had 23 combined hits Saturday.Â
Â
4: Four Black Knights had multiple hits in Game 2
Â
3: Ellis and Titus each had three RBIs in the second game, with Ellis going 3-for-5 and Titus going 3-for-6. Two of Ellis' hits were doubles.Â
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4: Barr drew four total walks across the twin bill, with three in Game 1. The sophomore followed with a 2-for-5 output in Game 2.Â
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5: Ruta reached base five times in Saturday's games, with a hit in each affair and three walks.Â
Â
Black Knight Notes
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Army's starting pitching has lasted five innings or longer in all but one of the club's 13 Patriot League games to date.Â
Â
The Black Knights have allowed six runs or fewer in each league game.Â
Â
Parker has reached base in 32 consecutive matchups.Â
Â
Next Up
Â
The teams are back Sunday to conclude the series, with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on ESPN+.
Â
Follow the Black Knights
Â
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lehman, Justin (3-2)
L: Joe Skapinetz (1-6)

Batting:
2B: Barr, Chris 1 ; Berg, Derek 1 ; Parker, William 1 ; Hewitt, Carter 1
RBI: Barr, Chris 1 ; Berg, Derek 1 ; Parker, William 3 ; Ruta, Sam 1 ; Schreck, Thomas 2
SF: Parker, William 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Barr, Chris 2 ; Berg, Derek 2 ; Golinski, Braden 1 ; Parker, William 1 ; Ainsworth, Addison 1 ; Hewitt, Carter 1 ; Schreck, Thomas 1
CS: Golinski, Braden 1 ; Ainsworth, Addison 1

Batting:
RBI: Matt Colella 2 ; Justin Grech 1
SH: Ben Petrone 1 ; Michael Mallas 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Teddy Cashman 1 ; Easton Brenner 1 ; Justin Grech 1
HBP: Ethan Swidler 1 ; Blaze Fadio 1
PO: Michael Zarrillo 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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