Softball Defeats Bucknell to Advance to Final Round Patriot League Championship

Saturday, May 10

West Point, N.Y.

4:00 PM

Army West Point

35-21

Bucknell

18-30

Army West Point

Bucknell

Softball Defeats Bucknell to Advance to Final Round Patriot League Championship

May 10, 2025 | Softball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army West Point Softball (35-21, 16-2) saw its second win in the Patriot League Championship on Saturday, defeating the Bucknell Bison (18-30, 8-10), 6-1.

With the win, Army survives the elimination game and advances to Championship Sunday, where they will face off against Boston U for the second time in the tournament.

The win was fueled by a three-run first inning, featuring back-to-back home runs from Ashton White and Caitlyn Newburn.

White finished the game leading the Black Knights with two hits and a game-high three RBIs in the win. Alongside Newburn, Leila Hurst finished the day with one hit and one RBI.

Four other Black Knights also had hits: Annie Christiana, Taylor Brown, Emma Murchison and Breanna Coonfare.

Amanda Eaglin led the pitching unit in the elimination game, finishing the day by only allowing one earned run on six hits and also adding two strikeouts. Breanna Izzo also entered the game and pitched for 1.2 innings, not allowing a hit and contributing a strikeout.

How It Happened

The Black Knights struck first in the top of the first inning, with Army putting up three runs to take a 3-0 lead.

Taylor Brown was first to get on base, then Ashton White, Patriot League Player of the Year, hit a home run down the left field line, earning two RBIs and giving Army a 2-0 lead.

Then right behind White, designated player Caitlyn Newburn followed suit with a home run off her own, hitting the ball off the left-center scoreboard to give Army a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Bucknell was able to get on base off one hit and one error, eventually getting two runners into scoring position, but Amanda Eaglin's first strikeout of the game and a ground out to Eaglin ended the inning.

The Black Knights went three-and-out in the top of the second inning, and the Bison one reached on a walk, but the score remained at 3-0.

In the third inning, the Black Knights were able to add one more run to the board, making it a 4-0 game.

Taylor Brown led off the inning with a single, then was able to advance on a stolen base. Caitlyn Newburn flew out to right field, allowing Brown to advance to third. Then, a wild pitch caused Brown to advance home, making it a 4-0 game.

Bucknell added its second hit of the day with a single to second base, but the runner was stranded on the base paths, sending it into the fourth inning.

The Black Knights went three-and-out at the top of the fourth, while the Bison added another hit, but were still left runless.

The fifth inning mirrored the fourth inning, with the Black Knights going three-and-out and Bucknell adding a fourth hit, a single, but the game stayed gridlocked at 4-0.

Ashton White led off the sixth inning with a double to right field. Then two batters later, Leila Hurst hit an RBI single to send White home to make it a 5-0 game. Breanna Coonfare also added a single, but the side was ultimately retired.

Bucknell added two one-out singles in the bottom of the sixth, then Breanna Izzo entered the game to relieve Izzo. The Bison were able to add one run off a fielder's choice, making it a 5-1, but a big strikeout from Izzo retired the inning before Bucknell did more damage.

Maisi Sigler entered the game as a pinch hitter, drawing a walk to lead off the inning, then Annie Christiana hit a bunt single, then advanced on a throwing error.

Ashton White then hit a ground out, but allowed enough time to score a run, adding a third RBI for Ashton White to make it a 6-1 game. The side was retired at the next at bat, with only three outs being in the way of an Army win.

The Bison led off the inning with a walk, but then three straight putouts retired the inning, giving the Black Knights the win and advancing Army to Championship Sunday.

ON DECK

Up next, the Black Knights advance to Championship Sunday, facing off with Boston U for a chance to earn a bid to the NCAA Softball Championships. To clinch the championship, Army must defeat the Terriers twice on Sunday.

First pitch on Championship Sunday is set for 10 a.m., and game two, if necessary, will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. All games will stream live on ESPN+.