Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Siena
Army Rallies To Defeat Siena, 7-4
March 19, 2011 | Softball
Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Army exploded for five runs, keyed by back-to-back RBI doubles by April Ortenzo and Alex Reynolds, in the top of the seventh inning to overcome an early two-run deficit in a 7-4 defeat of Siena Saturday morning at the Osceola County Softball Complex.
The Black Knights snapped a 1-1 tie on Clara Navarro's two-out run scoring single in the top of the second inning for a 2-1 lead. Siena stroked three straight hits, the last a two-run double with one out, along with a sacrifice fly, in scoring three runs to pull in front 4-2 in the bottom of the third inning.
Saints starter Jessika Jo Sandrini held Army to just two hits over the next four frames. She allowed just one Black Knight runner into scoring position over that span when she yielded a two-out double to designed player Meghan McGowan in the top of the fourth inning before shutting the door on a fly out to left field.
Army rebounded in the top of the seventh inning, exploding for five runs on three hits, along with five walks off three pitchers, in batting around to pull ahead 7-4.
With one out and trailing 4-2, Army loaded the bases with a pair of walks sandwiched around a single by Navarro. Ortenzo smacked a double to left center field on a 1-and-1 pitch in delivering Rachael Duval and Navarro to knot the score at 4-4. After being held hitless in her first three at-bats, Reynolds followed Ortenzo's example by ripping a two-run double up the middle in chasing home Amanda Nguyen (walk) and Ortenzo to snap the tie and pull ahead 6-4.
After issuing her third walk of the inning to freshman pitcher Haley Pypes, Sandrini turned the circle over to Courtney Brinkman, who came in from right field to pitch. Brinkman lasted just one batter after loading the bases with a walk to AuBuchon. Amanda Filippazzo was the third pitcher called to duty in that inning. She recorded the second out on a fielder's choice at home plate, then issued a bases-loaded RBI walk to McGowan before getting out of the inning on a popup to the shortstop.
Pypes (5-2), who took over from Marina Northup with one out and a runner at first base in the bottom of the fourth inning, threw 3.2 innings of shutout relief scattering two hits, issuing two walks and striking out three of the 15 batters she faced in picking up the decision.
After loading the bases on a hit, a fielder's choice and walk in the fourth inning, Pypes got out of that jam on a groundout to the third base. She went on to retire eight straight batters, two on strikeouts, before issuing a single and a walk with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. She nipped that threat on a strikeout and groundout.
Army collected seven hits with Ortenzo and McGowan each going 2-for 3. Ortenzo had two RBI and scored twice, and McGowan drove in a run and scored a run.
The Black Knights improved to 9-8 following their second win over Siena at the Rebel Spring Games where they show a 5-2 mark. Army snapped a 3-3 tie with three runs in the top of the seventh to defeat Siena 6-3 on Thursday.
Army closes out its trip to Florida when it takes on Wisconsin of Green Bay in the second game of the day.
