Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
11-11
UAlbany
5-12
Softball Finishes Mount Softball Invitational with Sweep Over UAlbany, Mount St. Mary's
March 15, 2025 | Softball
EMMITSBURG, Md. — Army West Point Softball (12-11) swept their competition on the second day of the Mount Softball Invitational, earning wins over the UAlbany Great Danes (5-12) and the Mount Saint Mary's Mountaineers (5-15).
With the two wins, the Black Knights finished the Mount Softball Invitational 3-1, with their only loss being against the Great Danes on the first day of action.
In the first game of Saturday's action, Army won their rematch against UAlbany, 5-2. The Black Knights scored two runs in the third inning and three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead, then stopped the Great Danes rally attempt in the bottom of the seventh.
As for the second game, it was all the Black Knights, with Army's bats exploding for a nine-run third inning to help take a commanding lead. The Black Knights added two runs in the top of the fourth inning, with the game being called at 11-0 after the fifth inning.
Taylor Brown led the Black Knights in the matchup with the Great Danes, earning two hits and one run, with one of her hits being a triple, the first of the season for Brown.
Leila Hurst and Annie Christiana led the hitting barrage for the Black Knights in the second game of the day. Hurst finished the day 3-3 with two runs, two RBIs and her second home run of the season. Annie Christiana finished the second game with two hits, three RBIs, two stolen bases and one run.
Breanna Izzo led the pitching efforts and gained her seventh win of the season for the Black Knights in game one. Izzo pitched a complete game, only allowing two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. She finished her day with eight strikeouts and only allowed one walk.
Katelyn Flanders had a strong five innings of play during game two, ultimately gaining the win. Flanders allowed one hit in 16 at-bats, adding five strikeouts and allowing no walks in the shutout against the Mountaineers.
GAME 1
To start the first inning, both teams went three-and-out, with Breanna Izzo earning two strikeouts in the first inning.
The Black Knights earned their first hit in the top of the second, with Caitlyn Newburn hitting a single. The Black Knights did not see any other action on the diamond, and UAlbany went three and out for the second straight inning, with Izzo adding another strikeout.
Army gained their first two runs in the top of the third inning, taking a 2-0 lead.
Action on the base pads began despite two outs on the board, with Taylor Brown hitting her first triple of the season. Annie Christiana drew a walk, then advanced to second on a stolen base. Then Ashton White hit a two-RBI single, sending Brown and Christiana home.
Breanna Izzo and the Black Knight defense remained strong, with Izzo earning two more strikeouts and the defense holding off two singles to keep the Great Danes at zero runs.
Leila Hurst started the fourth inning with a double, then after two outs, Tayten Moore was able to reach on an error, which ultimately sent Hurst home, adding another run. Samantha Sims then hit a single, sending Moore home. Finally, Taylor Brown added an RBI single, allowing Sims to get home, giving the Black Knights a 5-0 lead.
Army kept their 5-0 lead through the bottom of the seventh. Despite the Great Danes adding hits to get on base, the Black Knights were able to contain UAlbany while Breanna Izzo added three strikeouts.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, UAlbany began to rally, with a walk and base-clearing double giving the Great Danes their first run of the game. Then the next batter reached on an error, also allowing another run to be added.
Ultimately, the Black Knights were able to cut Albany's rally short, gaining their first Winn of the day.
GAME 2
The second game began similar to the first, with both teams going three-and-out in the first inning.
Army saw its first run in the second inning, with Leila Hurst hitting a single. She later advanced to second on a passed ball. Tayten Moore also earned a hit in the second, but the Black Knights came out of the inning runless.
Mount St. Mary's went three-and-out again in the second inning, with Katelyn Flanders throwing for two strikeouts in the inning.
The Black Knights' bats caught fire in the third inning scoring nine runs off of nine hits, and only leaving one player on base.
The massive inning started with a single from Sienna Tepley. Taylor Brown then doubled, sending Tepley to third. Annie Christiana hit a single, sending Tepley home. Christiana would steal second and Taylor Brown would steal for third. Then Ashton White earned a sacrifice hit, sending Brown home for her first RBI of the game.
Leila Hurst would then get her second run of the game in style. The senior would hit the Black Knights's first home run of the tournament to left field, eventually earning two RBIs, giving Army a 4-0 lead. But the Black Knights were not done yet.
Emma Murchison would get her first hit of the day with a single, then Breanna Coonfare added another single to send Murchison to second. Maaika Dones added a hit as well, loading the bases. The three runners would advance on a wild pitch, making it a 5-0 game.
Mount St. Mary's would bring in a relief pitcher, but it would not quell the Black Knights' hot bats.
Sienna Tepley earned a walk in her second at-bat of the inning, with Taylor Brown quickly adding her second double of the game, sending Dones and Coonfare home for two RBIs.
Annie Christiana would add a single, sending Tepley home for her second run of the inning. Annie Christiana added her second stolen base of the game, but then the side was finally retired, but not before the Black Knights had gained a 9-0 lead.
The Mountaineers were unable to respond in the bottom of the third inning, with two putouts and one strikeout in three at-bats sending the game to the fourth inning.
The hitting continued in the top of the fourth for Army, with Leila Hurst earning her third hit of the game with a single. Emma Murchison would hit an RBI double directly after, making it a 10-0 game.
Maaika Dones with add another single with two outs in the inning, sending Murchison to third. Sienna Tepley would add another single, this time with an RBI, sending Murchison home, making it an 11-0 game.
Both teams were held scoreless in their following half innings, sending the game into the bottom of the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth, Mount St. Mary's earned their first hit of the game with a double. Katelyn Flanders responded to the adversity with two straight strikeouts swinging, closing the game in five innings.
NEXT UP
The Black Knights play their season home opener on Wednesday, playing their third and fourth games against UAlbany in five days.
The doubleheader against the Great Danes is scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. first pitch times at the Army West Point Softball Complex.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Izzo, Breanna (7-3)
L: Hayley Wieczerzak (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Hurst, Leila 1
3B: Brown, Taylor 1
RBI: Brown, Taylor 1 ; White, Ashton 2 ; Moore, Tayten 1 ; Sims, Samantha 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brown, Taylor 1 ; Christiana, Annie 1 ; Hurst, Leila 1 ; Moore, Tayten 1 ; Sims, Samantha 1
SB: Christiana, Annie 1
HBP: Moore, Tayten 1
Batting:
2B: Vanessa Meyers 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sara Anderson 1 ; Caitlyn Frederick 1
