Softball Earns Game One Patriot League Championship Win Over Bucknell

Thursday, May 8

West Point, N.Y.

11:00 AM

Army West Point

34-20

Bucknell

17-29

Bucknell

Army West Point

Softball Earns Game One Patriot League Championship Win Over Bucknell

May 08, 2025 | Softball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army West Point Softball (34-20, 16-2) started its Patriot League Championship run on a winning note on Thursday, earning a 3-2 win over the Bucknell Bison (17-29, 8-10).

With the win, the Black Knights advance to the winners' half of the Patriot League Championships.

Taylor Brown, Sienna Tepley and Leila Hurst led the Black Knights with two hits each, with Ashton White, Caitlyn Newburn and Maisi Sigler each adding one hit. White and Newburn also added one RBI each.

Katelyn Flanders led the pitching staff with the start, pitching for six innings, throwing a game-high eight strikeouts, while only allowing two earned runs and five hits. Flanders got the win, and Breanna Izzo completed the game, earning the save.

How It Happened

Bucknell got the first hit of the game, but Flanders ended the inning with her first two strikeouts of the game to leave one runner on base.

The Black Knights struck back in the first inning, scoring one run off two hits to take a 1-0 lead.

Taylor Brown started the hitting for Army by hitting a single up the middle, then she was able to advance to second off a wild pitch. Ashton White then fouled out to right field, allowing Brown to advance to third.

Then, Caitlyn Newburn hit a single to center field, allowing Brown to advance home, allowing Army to gain a 1-0 lead and Newburn to earn the first RBI of the game.

In the top of the second inning, Bucknell knocked another single, but another strikeout by Flanders and two putouts kept the Bison runless. The Black Knights then went three-and-out in the bottom of the second.

Bucknell went three-and-out in the top of the third, then Army gained its second run of the game, taking a 2-0 lead.

Sienna Tepley got on base with her first single of the game, then Annie Christiana reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second during the next at bat.

Taylor Brown then grounded out to advance Christina to third. Then a throwing error allowed Christiana to advance home to make it a 2-0 game.

Bucknell went three and out in the top of the fourth, then Leila Hurst and Maisi Sigler added two singles in the bottom of the inning, but the Black Knights were not able to add a run on the board.

The Bison added another hit in the top of the fifth, but three strikeouts from Flanders ended the top of the inning. The Black Knights would add one more run in the bottom of the fifth, making it a 3-0 game.

Sienna Tepley added her second hit of the day with a single up the middle to get on base. Then Taylor Brown added another single, this time through the right side to advance Tepley to third.

Then, Ashton White got her first hit and RBI of the day by singling to right field, giving Army its 3-0 lead.

The Bison would finally score their first run in the top of the sixth, making it a 3-1 game. Leila Hurst earned the Black Knights' final hit of the game, hitting a single to left field, and Maisi Sigler added a walk, but both were left stranded.

In the final frame, the Bison were able to get one run off two hits, making it a 3-2 game. Then the Black Knights, alongside Breanna Izzo, who entered the game after Bucknell's first hit, earned three consecutive putouts to stop the Bison comeback and take the win.

ON DECK

Up next, the Black Knights stay in the top half of the Patriot League Championship bracket, as they will play in game three of the bracket against the winner of Game Two of the tournament between Lehigh and Boston U.

First pitch for Saturday's tournament action at the Army Softball Complex is set for 11 a.m., with the game also streaming live on ESPN+.