The top-seeded Army ˮAV˵ baseball team (38-16, 21-4 PL) defeated No. 2 Bucknell (23-23-1, 14-11 PL) 21-6 in Game 2 of the Patriot League Championship, claiming their fifth-straight Patriot League Championship May 22 at Doubleday Field.
This crown is the 12th in program history for Army and they are the first team to win five consecutive titles.
was named Tournament MVP. , and joined Dubrule on the Patriot League Baseball All-Tournament Team.
How it Happened
batted 5-for-6 with two home runs, six RBIs and two runs and had a double and 2 RBIs.
In the bottom of the first, Bucknell attacked Army starter (W, 9-1). With one out, the Bison had back-to-back walks, putting runners on first and second. Sean Key's hit a two-RBI double down the right field line, sending Grant Voytovich and Jacob Corson in to score, giving the Bison a 2-0 lead. The Black Knights retired the side with a strikeout and a pop-up.
Army got out in order in the bottom of the first.
In the top of the second, Bucknell continued to attack the Black Knights offensively. With one out, Nic Adamo ripped a single to right center, putting a runner on first. Senior Kyle Lyons hit a single to Dubrule, putting runners on first and second. With two outs, Corson ripped a single to second, loading the bases. The Bison took a 4-0 lead, after Corson advanced to second on a failed pick-off attempt by Berg, bringing Lyons and Adamo in to score, Corson was tagged out at third by.
Army battled in the bottom of the second, attacking Bucknell starter Tyler O'Neill (L, 3-5). Leadoff hitter hit a single to left field, putting a runner on first. walked, advancing Friedrick to second, putting a runner in scoring position. With one out, walked, loading the bases. was hit by a pitch, advancing the runners, and bringing Friedrick in to score, making it a 4-1 game. fouled out and Golinski came in to score cutting Bucknell's lead in half. With two outs, made it a 4-4 ballgame after ripping a two-run triple to left field, sending Ainsworth and Ellis across the plate. The Bison ended the inning with a groundout.
The bats came alive for the Black Knights in the bottom of the third. Leadoff hitter blasted a solo home run to left center, giving Army a 5-4 lead. ripped a double to first, putting a runner in scoring position. Golinski hit a two-run home run to right center, bringing Friedrick across the plate, and extending the Black Knights lead to 7-4. ripped a single to right center, putting a runner on first. Ellis was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. Ainsworth hit a sacrifice bunt to third, advancing Titus and Ellis into scoring position. Barr ripped an RBI single to right field, advancing Ellis to third, and sending Titus in to score. blasted a three-run home run, making it an 11-4 game. Bucknell's Theo Farynick came in to pitch relief for O'Neill. With two outs, Dubrule hit a single to right field, putting a runner on first. Bucknell ended the inning with a groundout.
The Bison attempted their comeback in the top of the fifth. Billy Kender ripped a double to left center, putting a runner in scoring position. Chris Klein hit a single to left center, putting runners on the corners. Adamo grounded out to Dubrule, advancing Klein to second, and sending Kender across the plate, making it an 11-5 game. Lyons grounded out to Dubrule, advancing Klein to third, and putting a runner in scoring position. Army cleared the side with a groundout.
The bats stayed hot for the Black Knights in the bottom of the fourth. Leadoff hitter walked, putting a runner on first. Titus was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. Ellis ripped an RBI single to right field, sending Golinski in to score and advancing Titus to third, putting runners on the corners, giving Army a 12-5 lead. The Black Knights had two runners in scoring position after Ellis advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ainsworth hit a two-RBI double down the right field line, sending Ellis and Titus in to score, making it a 14-5 game. Barr grounded out to second, advancing Ainsworth to third. Berg walked, putting runners on the corners. Berg advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting runners on second and third. Ruta ripped a bases-clearing double through the right side, sending Berg and Ainsworth in to score, giving Army a 16-5 lead. hit a single to Anthony Sherwin, putting a runner on first. Ryan Osinski came in to pitch relief for Farynick. Osinski ended the inning with two strikeouts.
The Black Knights got out in order in the bottom of the fifth.
The Bison threatened Ruggieri in the top of the sixth. Kender was hit by a pitch, putting a runner on first. Klein lined out into a double play, and Kender was tagged out on the play by Friedrick. Adamo hit a single to right center, putting a runner on first. Ruggieri retired the side with a strikeout.
Army responded in the bottom of the sixth. Leadoff hitter walked, putting a runner on first. Berg grounded out to Keys, advancing Barr to second, and putting a runner in scoring position. With two outs, ripped an RBI single to center field, sending Barr in to score, making it a 17-5 game. Bucknell cleared the side with a groundout.
came into the game for and came in to pitch relief for.
In the top of the seventh, the Bison threatened the Black Knights. With two outs, Voytovich reached first on an error by Ruta, putting a runner on base. Keys ripped an RBI double to left center, sending Voytovich across the plate, making it a 17-6 ballgame. Tyler Dunn was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. Army retired the side with a fly-out
Bucknell got out in order in the top of the eighth.
Mason Kelly came into the game for Voytovich and Nikhil Patel came in to pitch relief for Osinski.
In the bottom of the eighth, came into the game to pinch-hit for. Smith was hit by a pitch, putting a runner on first. Copeland was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. Berg ripped a single to left field, loading the bases. Relief pitcher Brady Swenson came into the game for Patel. With one out, Dubrule blasted a grand slam to left field, giving the Black Knights a commanding 21-6 lead. The Bison ended the inning with a strikeout and a fly out.
In the top of the ninth, went to left field for.
Sherwin walked, putting a runner on first. With one out, came into the game for. Kelly reached on a fielder's choice and Sherwin was tagged out at second by . Buecker struck out Keys, securing the win for the Black Knights, earning their fifth-straight title.
Inside the Box
- Army starter (9-1) got the win, working 6.0 innings, allowing 8 hits, 5 runs, and 3 earned runs, while striking out 4, and walking 3.
- batted 5-6 with 2 home runs, 6 RBIs, and 2 runs.
- batted 3-5, having a home run, a triple, 5 RBIs, and 3 runs.
- pitched 2.1 innings, allowing 1 hit, and 1 run, while striking out 3, and walked 1.
- had 2 hits, having a double and 2 runs.
- had a hit, a home run, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs.
- had 2 hits and 2 runs.
- had a hit, a double, and 2 RBIs.
- worked 0.2 inning, allowing no hits, runs, and struck out 1.
- Bucknell starter O'Neill (3-5) got the loss, pitched 2.1 innings, allowing 8 hits, 11 runs, had no strikeouts, and walked 2.
- Farynick worked 1.0 inning, allowing 5 hits, 5 runs, had no strikeouts, and walked 2.
- Osinski pitched 3.2 innings, allowing 2 hits, and 1 run, while striking out 4, and walked 1.
- Patel worked 0.0 inning, allowing 1 hit, 3 runs, and had no strikeouts.
- Swenson pitched 1.0 inning, allowing 1 hit, and 1 run, while striking out 2.
Up Next
After securing Patriot League's automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament, the Black Knights await its seeding and regional placement. The Selection Show can be viewed on ESPN2 on May 29 at noon.