Baseball Rallies to Win Home Opener Against Merrimack

Tuesday, March 10

West Point, N.Y

3:35 p.m.

Army West Point

6-7

Merrimack

4-7

Merrimack

Army West Point

Baseball Rallies to Win Home Opener Against Merrimack

March 10, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point baseball was excited to finally return home after opening the 2026 season with 12 games on the road, and fans waiting for some Doubleday magic were treated to just that, as the Black Knights homered twice in the eighth inning—with one of those home runs coming as a grand slam—to rally from four runs down late to win their home opener 10-9 over the Merrimack Warriors on Tuesday.

Down 9-5 entering the penultimate stanza, William Parker and Bennie Franquiz collected singles, Chris Barr took a hit by pitch, and Josiah Overbeek hit Army's first grand slam since 2024 to tie the game at 9-9. It was the freshman's second homer of the game.

Not to be easily outdone in heroics, junior catcher Max McGlone launched his first career home to left field, giving Army its first lead of the game, a 10-9 advantage that stood thanks to Overbeek's perfect ninth inning, his second save of the season.

The final innings marked the punctuation of a game-long rally for the Black Knights (6-7), who trailed most of the way. After the Warriors jumped out ahead 2-0 in the first inning on a two-run homer, Army got one of those runs back on a second inning RBI groundout from Thomas Schreck, before Overbeek tied the game with an RBI single in the third.

However, the visitors jumped right back in front with a trio of unearned runs in the fourth and added another in the fifth to make it 6-2.

The comeback began to spark for Army in the sixth, with Parker coming off the bench to pinch hit and deliver a bases loaded sacrifice fly to score John McKillop. After Merrimack regained its four-run lead in the seventh, Overbeek's first home of the game followed in the home half of the inning, a two-run towering fly to right that nearly hit the Jefferson Hall Library and made it 7-5.

The Warriors once again followed in the eighth with two runs, going back ahead by four and seemingly creating a large enough cushion, before the Army rally in the bottom half of the inning.

Robbie Penswick was the winning pitcher for Army after recording two outs in the eighth. William Leahy, Ian Standlee and Anthony Ramirez each also received action out of the bullpen. Michael Delph started the game on the mound and took a two-inning, one-strikeout no-decision.

By the Numbers

7: Overbeek drove in seven runs Tuesday, the most since Sam Ruta vs. Holy Cross on April 7, 2024. He was 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of walks drawn.

76: Tuesday's home opener reached 76 degrees, one degree below last year's home finale on May 3, and 36 degrees warmer than last season's first home game.

Black Knight Notes

Overbeek's two-homer game was the second by a Black Knight this year, after Chris Barr hit two homers at South Carolina on February 20.

The grand slam from Overbeek was the first grand slam by an Army player since Ruta on April 7, 2024 vs. Holy Cross.

Freshman Mason Scott made his first career start on Tuesday, at third base and batted ninth.

Bennie Franquiz batted leadoff Tuesday for the first time in his career, in what was the freshman's second career start.

Thomas Schreck hit in a spot other than ninth for the first time since batting eighth on May 3 vs. Rider a season ago

Delph's start was his first on the mound for the two-way player after making four pitching starts a season ago.

Standlee made his first appearance of the season and just the second of his career. His two innings pitched and three strikeouts were both career-highs.

Head Coach Chris Tracz picked up his 100^th career win Tuesday.

Next Up

The teams stay put for the back end of the two-game midweek series, with first pitch Wednesday set for 3:35 p.m. at Doubleday Field.

Follow the Black Knights

Follow Army Baseball on X @ArmyWP_Baseball and on Instagram @armywp_baseball. Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about baseball and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com.