Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
19-12, 0
Bucknell
9-17, 0
Softball's Stellar Pitching Fuels Doubleheader Sweep Over Bucknell
March 28, 2025 | Softball
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army West Point Softball's (20-12, 5-0) pitching staff dominated the opening two games of their series against the Bucknell (9-18, 0-5).
In game one against the visiting Bison, the Black Knights were able to shut out Bucknell, as well as score two runs each in the first two innings to gain a 4-0 win.
Breanna Izzo led the way for the Black Knights, pitching a complete game shutout, tying her career high with eight strikeouts to help clinch the win.
Meanwhile, the Black Knights compiled 11 total hits, with Ashton White and Annie Christiana each having three hits in the win. Ashton White had two runs in the win, with Annie Christiana and Leila Hurst each adding a run.
The pitching staff for the Black Knights continued to put on a show in game two, with Army having a second consecutive 4-0 win over the Bison, clinching the series win, sweeping the doubleheader, and extending the team's win streak to eight straight games.
The main star of the game was reigning Patriot League Pitcher of the Week Katelyn Flanders, who threw her first career complete no-hitter and the first no-hitter in program history since 2017.
Emma Murchison also shined in the matchup, hitting a season and career-high two home runs in the game, scoring three of Army's four RBIs to take the win.
GAME 1
Breanna Izzo started the game strong in the first inning, earning two strikeouts swinging in the first inning, forcing the Bison to go three-and-out.
On the flip side, the Black Knight offense got rolling in the bottom of the first. Annie Christiana started the hitting off with a single and then stole second base. Ashton White would single at the next at bat, advancing Christiana to third. The next batter would fly out, then Taylor Brown drew a walk to load the bases.
Then Maisi Sigler hit a single to the shortstop, forcing an error and allowing Christiana to score. Tayten Moore would then draw a walk as well, sending Ashton White home, and giving Army a 2-0 lead.
The Bison would get their first hit to lead off the second inning, but Izzo would get two more strikeouts, one looking and one swinging, plus forcing another groundout to retire the frame in four batters.
In the second inning, the bats stayed hot for the home team, scoring two runs off of five hits, taking a 4-0 lead, which would be the final score for the game.
Sienna Tepley got her first hit of the day with a single but was put out during the next at-bat with a fielder's choice, that allowed Leila Hurst on base. Annie Christiana got her second hit of the day with a single to left center.
Then during the next at bat, Ashton White hit a single to send both Leila Hurst and Annie Christiana home. Leila Hurst came across home plate, but Annie Christiana was put out in a relay from right field to the second baseman to the catcher. During the relay, Ashton White advanced to second base.
Caitlyn Newburn would single during the next at bat, sending White to third, then Taylor Brown added a single to right center to send Ashton White home to take the 4-0 lead.
The Bison were able to get one hit in the third inning, and was left stranded on base, thanks to another Izzo strikeout and two putouts. In the bottom of the third, Sienna Tepley reached on an error but was also left stranded on base.
In the fourth inning, the Bison hit two singles off of Izzo, but the defense ultimately left the two on base through two groundouts and a fielder's choice. The Black Knights also got two hits in the fourth with a third single from Annie Christiana and a double from Ashton White.
The Black Knights forced a three-and-out in the fifth inning, with Izzo recording another strikeout in the inning. Maisi Sigler would add the Black Knights's final hit of the game with a single, but Army was able to convert it to a run.
Izzo and the Black Knights were in danger of losing their shutout in the top of the sixth, with Bucknell earning two hits in the inning. But a groundout, fielder's choice and another strikeout from Izzo forced the Bison to be runless. The Black Knights went three-and-out in the bottom of the inning, sending the game to the final three outs.
In the final inning, the Black Knights allowed no hits, forcing the Bison to go three and out. Izzo got her eight strikeouts in style to close the game, tying her career-high and earning a complete game shutout.
GAME 2
Katelyn Flanders set the mood for the no-hitter with a lead-off strikeout. The Black Knight defense forced a ground out but then had a fielding error to allow a runner on base. The next batter would pop out to Taylor Brown, retiring the inning.
Army only earned one hit in the bottom of the first, with Ashton White getting her fourth hit of the day with a single to right field.
In the second inning, Flanders and the Black Knights' defense forced Bucknell to be three-and-out.
In the bottom of the second, Emma Murchison was the lead-off hitter, and that's when her career game began. She hit a lead-off solo home run to deep center field to give the Black Knights a 1-0 lead. Maisi Sigler would also hit a single in the inning but was left on base.
In the top of the third, Flanders' no-hitter was put in jeopardy. Flanders's aggressive pitching led to two hit-by-pitches and one walk, loading the bases. But the Black Knights' defense helped defend the diamond, and the final batter grounded out to Flanders as she got the final putout to keep the no-hitter intact.
The Black Knights would go three-and-out in the bottom of the third. In the top of the fourth, Bucknell forced another walk off of Flanders but a strikeout and two more putouts retired the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Army took a 3-0 lead, with Emma Murchison striking again. But first, Caitlyn Newburn hit a single to get on base.
Then, Emma Murchison hit her second home run of the day to deep center field, this time doubling the number of runs and getting her second and third RBIs of the day. Breanna Coonfare, who got the start in left field, would also hit a single but was stranded on the base pads.
The no-hitter pursuit continued in the top of the fifth, with Flanders and Army forcing Bucknell through another three-and-out through two flyouts and Ashton White catching a ball in foul territory.
Army added its final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ashton While hit a two-out double to left field, then Caitlyn Newburn added another double, this time to left center, to send White to home plate to make it a 4-0 game.
The Bison went three-and-out in the sixth inning, while Breanna Coonfare added another single in the bottom of the inning for the final hit of the game. Coonfare was ultimately left on base, sending the game to the final three outs.
The bottom of the seventh began with a fly out to center field. Flanders then struck out the next batter swinging. Then, the final hitter hit the ball to Leila Hurst at first base, who put her out unassisted, concluding the game and allowing Flanders to accomplish a no-hitter no Army pitcher has done since 2017.
ON DECK
Army will aim for their second straight sweep, this time against Bucknell, during Patriot League play on Saturday.
The game on Saturday will begin at 12 p.m. in the Army Softball Complex.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Flanders, Katelyn (5-3)
L: Madison Roukey (3-11)
Batting:
SH: Bella Radican 1
Base Running:
HBP: Ava Aguilar 1 ; Angelina Seropian 1
Batting:
2B: White, Ashton 1 ; Newburn, Caitlyn 1
HR: Murchison, Emma 2
RBI: Newburn, Caitlyn 1 ; Murchison, Emma 3
Base Running:
RUNS: White, Ashton 1 ; Newburn, Caitlyn 1 ; Murchison, Emma 2
