Softball Spilts Home Opening Doubleheader with UAlbany

Wednesday, March 19

West Point, N.Y.

1:00 PM

Army West Point

12-12

UAlbany

7-12

Albany

Army West Point

Emma Murchison and Co. Celebrating Her Walk-Off SIngle

Softball Spilts Home Opening Doubleheader with UAlbany

March 19, 2025 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army West Point Softball (13-12) opened play at the Army Softball Complex 1-1, seeing a loss and a win in a doubleheader against the UAlbany Great Danes (7-13).

Today's games marked the third and fourth meeting between the teams in five days, with the two also splitting the two games with each other at the Mount Softball Invitational in Emmitsburg, Maryland on Friday and Saturday.

In game one, the Black Knights saw a 0-1 loss in extra innings, with the Great Danes scoring an unearned run in the top of the eighth. Meanwhile, in game two, Army scored a comeback victory, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, capped off by a walk-off single from Emma Murchison.

Despite being runless in the first game, the Black Knights finished the game with seven hits, with Leila Hurst leading the way with two hits in the game. Katelyn Flanders had a strong performance in the loss, pitching 8.0 innings with 10 strikeouts and only two walks.

In game two, the Black Knights were held scoreless through the bottom of the seventh, where the Black Knights came back from a 0-3 deficit to take a 4-3.

Annie Christiana led the team with two hits in the second game, with Caitlyn Newburn adding a home run in the bottom of the seventh for the only extra-base hit of the game. Then Emma Murchison added the timely single with Ashton White scoring her first run of the day to clinch the win.

Libby Levendowski earned the start for the Black Knights, finishing her game pitching 5.1 innings with three strikeouts alongside five hits and three earned runs. Breanna Izzo came in as relief, ultimately earning the win after 1.2 innings of action, with three strikeouts, two hits and zero runs.

GAME 1

In the first inning, UAlbany earned their first hit of the day in the top of the first on a single. The Great Danes would advance to scoring position, but then Flanders earned her first strikeout of the day to end at the top of the first.

UAlbany was able to get more action on the base pads in the second inning, loading the bases with only one out. Then Flanders and the Black Knight defense came through with a timely strikeout and put out to retire the Great Danes.

The Black Knights were unable to get their offense going in the first two innings, going three-and-out in the first two frames.

Army added one more strikeout and two more putouts while UAlbany earned another single In the top of the third. The Black Knights earned its first two hits in the bottom of the third, with Samantha Sims and Taylor Brown both adding singles, but were ultimately left on base.

The home team forced the Great Danes to three ground outs in the top of the fourth. Offensively in the fourth, the Black Knights earned three hits that they were unable to convert to runs. Ashton White, Caitlyn Newburn and Leila Hurst all got on base with singles. But with bases loaded and no outs, Army saw three consecutive outs to end the fourth with both teams still knotting at 0-0.

No team got an extra-base hit until the bottom of the sixth. In the two innings defensively, Flanders added three strikeouts, two swinging and one looking. Ashton White got her second hit of the game with a double but ultimately was left stranded.

In the top of the seventh, Flanders helped contain the Great Danes with two strikeouts. Ultimately, Both teams went scoreless in the seventh inning, sending the game to extra innings.

In extra innings, both teams were given ghost runners starting at second base, with the Great Danes being able to capitalize while the Black Knights were still held runless.

The Great Danes bunted to place runners on first and third base, then singled through the right side, bringing the first run across home plate in the game. With two runners still in action, Flanders earned two strikeouts swinging, allowing the Black Knights the chance to respond.

On the other side, Army saw two consecutive outs to start the bottom of the eighth. Ashton White drew a walk, but the next batter struck out, ending the game at 0-1 in Albany's favor.

GAME 2

Libby Levendowski started the second game strong, allowing zero runs in the first three innings. In the three innings, the Great Danes had two hits while Levendowski had two strikeouts in 11 at-bats.

As for the Black Knights, had one hit in each of the three innings. Annie Christiana had the first hit of the game with a single to right field, Sienna Tepley singled up the middle in the second inning and Leila Hurst had her first of two hits with another single up the middle.

The first run came in the top of the fourth, with UAlbany hitting a lead-off home run to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. After the home run, Levendowski and the Black Knights forced the Great Danes to go three and out.

Maaika Dones was the only batter for Army to get on base in the fourth inning but advanced on a passed ball after striking out. Both teams then went three-and-out sending the game to the sixth inning.

The Great Danes started the inning with a double, then a RBI single to the left side gave UAlbany a 2-0 lead. Breanna Izzo then came into the game in relief. The Great Danes would go on to add another run, earning a 3-0 lead in the top of the sixth.

Julia Farris was the only successful batter for Army in the bottom of the sixth, singling to the left side, but was left on base.

Heading into the seventh inning, after the Great Danes hit a lead-off single, the Black Knights forced three outs with two ground outs and one strikeout to retire the Great Danes.

In the bottom of the seventh, Army began its comeback and scored their first runs of the day which ultimately allowed them to clinch the win.

The inning started on a high note, with Caitlyn Newburn hitting the first Army home run at the Army Softball Complex this season. Newburn hit a deep shot to center field, giving Army some much-needed momentum in their rally attempt.

Two hitters later, Taylor Brown singled to the pitcher and then Annie Christiana singled to the catcher right behind her, quickly adding two Black Knights to the base pads.

The Black Knights then took advantage of a fielding error from UAlbany's shortstop, allowing Ashton White, the eventual game-winning run, to reach second base. Off the error, Annie Christiana advanced to third and Taylor Brown was able to run home, making it a 3-2 game.

Leila Hurst would ground out to second base, but still ultimately earned an RBI allowing Annie Christiana to go home. Ashton White also advanced to third base on the play.

Then, the catcher for the matchup, Emma Murchison stepped up to the plate. She would then single to center field sending Ashton White home, walking off the game and completing the Black Knights' 4-3 comeback win.

NEXT UP

The Black Knights open Patriot League play on Saturday and Sunday as they head to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to take on the Lehigh Mountain Hawks.

Doubleheader action on Saturday is set for 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. starts, while the third game of the series will begin at 12 p.m. on Sunday. All three games will air live on ESPN+.