Softball Extends Winning Streak to Six Games in Sweep Against Rider

Wednesday, March 26

West Point, N.Y.

3:00 PM

Army West Point

17-12

Rider

8-19

Rider

Army West Point

Photo by: Mady Salvani

Softball Extends Winning Streak to Six Games in Sweep Against Rider

March 26, 2025 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army West Point Softball (18-12, 3-0) returned to the Army Softball Complex on Wednesday, sweeping their midweek doubleheader with the Rider University Broncos (8-20, 2-1).

With the two wins, the Black Knights are now on a six-game winning streak, tied for the longest win streak the program has had since 2022.

The Black Knights took game one of their doubleheader with Rider, 6-3. Rider took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, but then Army responded with five unanswered runs to build a large lead that the Broncos could not overcome.

Leila Hurst and Maisi Sigler led the Black Knights offensively in game one. Maisi Sigler finished the game with three hits alongside one RBI. Meanwhile, Leila Hurst served as the main slugger with a double and triple in the game earning three runs in the win.

Amanda Eaglin led the pitching staff in game one, pitching five innings with four strikeouts while allowing four hits and two runs. Eaglin also received the win. Libby Levendowski entered the game and pitched two innings in relief.

In game two, the Black Knights were fueled by an Ashton White solo home run in the bottom of the first and a four-run fourth inning to hold off the Broncos, taking a 5-3 win.

Ashton White led the way with her home run, also drawing two walks and earning two runs and one RBI. Leila Hurst and Breanna Coonfare also added two hits each in the win.

Breanna Izzo led the pitching efforts, only giving up three runs, six hits and one walk in 4.1 innings pitched. She also had six strikeouts in the win. Reigning Patriot League Pitcher of the Week Katelyn Flanders came in for relief for 2.2 innings, only allowing two hits.

GAME 1

The Black Knights took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Leila Hurst drew a walk to get on base, then advanced to second on a ground out from Annie Christiana. Then Hurst was able to score the first run when Ashton White put the ball into play, forcing an error from the Bronco defense.

The two teams were scoreless in the second inning, with Amanda Eaglin earning her first strikeout and the Black Knights earning two hits. The hits came with a Maisi Sigler single and a perfect bunt from Sienna Tepley. Sam Bocis was able to get on base as well with a walk, but ultimately, all three were left on base.

Rider took its first and only lead in the top of the third inning. Rider scored on a two-run home run to center field, taking a 2-1 lead. The Broncos finished the inning with three hits, but Eaglin struck out the last batter to stop Rider from scoring.

The Black Knights immediately responded in the bottom of the third, tying the game at 2-2. Army was able to get three hits in the inning, with one single each from Caitlyn Newburn, Emma Murchison and Maisi Sigler. Maaika Dones did reach on a fielder's choice with bases loaded, but Newburn was tagged at home.

Then in the next at-bat, Sam Bocis drew a walk for an RBI, allowing Murchison to score the game-tying run. But that was the only run scored in the inning, with the Black Knights leaving three on base for the second straight inning.

The visiting team was once again held scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, with two putouts forced each inning and Amanda Eaglin adding one strikeout in each frame.

Army added two runs in both the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, to grow their lead to a 6-2 lead.

In the fourth inning, Leila Hurst led off the inning with a double, then Annie Christiana forced the pitcher into a throwing error on a bunt, advancing herself to second and Hurst home. Then Maisi Sigler added another single, earning the RBI to allow Christiana to reach home plate.

In the bottom of the fifth, Sienna Tepley started off the Black Knights by getting on base by getting hit by a pitch. During the next at-bat, Leila Hurst hit her first triple of the season down the right field line, scoring Tepley.

Then Ashton White would ground out to second base, but it allowed enough time for Hurst to score. Taylor Brown would add another hit in the inning but was also left stranded on the base pads.

In the sixth inning, Libby Levendowski would come in relief, where the visiting team would score another run.

The Broncos led off the inning with a double, but then an error on Army's shortstop allowed another runner on base and for Rider to make it a 6-3 game. The Broncos would draw a walk, but the Black Knights forced a putout and Levendowski earned her first strikeout to leave two on base.

Army would go three-and-out in the bottom of the sixth. Then in the top of the seventh, the Broncos started the inning with a walk, then at the next at-bat, Libby Levendowski forced a double play catching a pop-up and putting out the runner on first. The Broncos would hit one last single, but the last batter flew out to center field, allowing Army to clinch the game one win.

GAME 2

In game two, the Broncos started the inning with two hits, but starting pitcher Breanna Izzo forced two strikeouts swinging to get out of the inning with no run damage.

Then Army took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first for the second straight game.

The first two batters were forced into putouts, then Ashton White stepped up to the plate. On the second pitch, she hit a deep shot to left field, which turned into a solo home run to allow Army to take the lead.

Rider earned one walk in the second, but Izzo forced another strikeout and Leila Hurst earned two putouts unassisted to retire the batters. As for the Black Knights, they went three-and-out in the inning.

Both teams would again go three-and-out in the third inning, with Izzo adding another strikeout.

Rider would add another hit and force the Black Knights into an error in the top of the fourth. Izzo and the Black Knight defense would take care of the inning, leaving the Broncos scoreless.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Black Knights would take control by scoring four runs to take a 5-0 lead.

The inning started with Annie Christiana hitting her first collegiate triple to left field. Ashton White would draw a walk during the next at bat, then Leila Hurst added a single up the middle to send Christiana home.

Maisi Sigler would also hit a single and reached on a fielder's choice, advancing White home but forcing Hurst out at second. Breanna Coonfare would single up the middle to get on base and advance Sigler to third. Coonfare would attempt to steal second, forcing Rider's catcher into a throwing error, allowing Maisi Sigler to score.

Sam Rodgers would conclude the scoring in the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle, allowing Coonfare to score, but in an attempt to reach second, was put out. Samantha Sims would draw a walk, but Army would fly out to close the inning with four runs and five hits.

The visiting team would make its move in the top of the fifth inning scoring on a three-run home run to cut Army's lead to 5-3.

The inning started with Izzo throwing a strikeout. Then the Broncos hit a double, followed by a single, then followed by a home run into deep center. Katelyn Flanders would then come in as relief, getting the Black Knights out of the frame with two putouts.

The Black Knights would get on base in the fifth and the sixth innings but were unable to earn runs. Ashton White drew another walk and Leila Hurst hit a single in the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, Breanna Coonfare added a single and stole second base, but was also left stranded on base.

In the final two innings of pitching, Katelyn Flanders only allowed two hits with one strikeout, closing the door on Rider's comeback attempt and completing the midweek doubleheader sweep.

ON DECK

Army will play its second series in Patriot League play, the first series in West Point, on Friday and Saturday taking on the Bucknell Bison. Last season, Bucknell took a 2-1 series win in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania over the Black Knights.

The series will begin on Friday in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., but games airing on ESPN+. The final game will take place at the Army Softball Complex at 12 p.m. on Saturday.