Baseball Clinches Regular Season Title in Doubleheader

Saturday, May 4

West Point, N.Y.

12 PM

Army West Point

26-19, 15-7

Lehigh

22-22-1, 7-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
LEHIGH	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2
ARMY West Point	0	1	1	0	1	0	X	3	4	1

Baseball Clinches Regular Season Title in Doubleheader

May 04, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Cumulative Stats

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point Baseball secured the 2024 Patriot League Regular Season Championship, and the No. 1 seed throughout the Patriot League Tournament, splitting Saturday's home doubleheader against Lehigh.

With the Game 1 win on Saturday, Army will play each conference postseason game at Doubleday Field.

This year marks the program's third consecutive regular season league crown, and the fourth straight regular season title in either conference or division (Army won the Patriot League North Division title in 2021).

With two more games to play until the postseason, Army sits at 26-20 overall, and 15-8 in the Patriot League.

Before the games, the team's senior class of 11 was honored.

Game 1

The news of a regular season title was nearly buried in Army's 3-0 Game 1 win. That's because starting pitcher Matthew Ronnebaum took a no-hitter in the final frame of the seven-inning contest.

Despite losing the no-no, the righty was able to finish the complete-game shutout, with nine strikeouts to show for. Ronnebaum retired 17 batters in a row during a stretch from the first to the seventh inning.

Thomas Schreck executed a squeeze play in the second, before Addision Ainsworth drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the third to make it 2-0. Braden Golinski then crossed the plate in the fifth, on a throwing error by the catcher after stealing third base.

The Mountain Hawks brought the go-ahead runner to the plate in the final inning, but Ronnebaum recorded a strikeout looking to stand the bases loaded.

Game 2

Army couldn't complete the twin bill sweep Saturday, falling 4-3 in Game 2 Saturday.

The Mountain Hawks, shutout in the opening contest, got on the scoreboard in the first inning of the second game.

Army tied the game in the second on an Ethan Ellis sacrifice fly. Ainsworth followed with an RBI single in the frame to make it 2-1 Black Knights. Sam Ruta then logged an RBI single in the fifth to stretch the lead to 3-1.

Lehigh however would tie the game with two runs in the seventh and scored in the eighth to take the lead for good.

Justin Lehman started Saturday's Game 2, earning a no-decision with 4.2 innings pitched. The junior struck out three, and didn't allow any runs after the first inning.

Trey Ates and Tanner Gresham each pitched, giving way to Andrew Berg, who took the decision.

By the Numbers

3: Ronnebaum allowed just three total baserunners in Game 1.

2-for-3: Lehman was 2-for-3 as a hitter in Game 1, getting the nod at first base.

3-for-6: Derek Berg was 3-for-6 total Saturday, which included a 2-for-3 output in Game 2.

3: William Parker had three total walks Saturday, two of which came in Game 1.

Black Knight Notes

Ronnebaum's complete game was his second of the year, and the team's fourth.

The complete-game shutout was the second time a Black Knight pitcher accomplished that feat.

Lehigh's one hit in Game 1 was the lowest by a team against Army this year.

Ronnebaum has pitched seven innings or longer in two consecutive games.

With just one more season series to complete, the Black Knights have won their respective season series against each Patriot League foe. Army previously took two of three from Lehigh in March.

Tanner Gresham's relief outing was the second this year for last season's Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, after recovering from Tommy John Surgery.

11 seniors were recognized on senior day, including Ronnebaum and Jack Morken, who are using their final seasons of NCAA eligibility, but came to West Point as transfers are not academic seniors at the academy.

Next Up

Army is slated to finish the regular season Sunday, with a doubleheader against Lafayette.

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.