Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Fairfield
Fairfield Upends Army, 9-3
April 06, 2011 | Baseball
Box Score
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Tucker Nathans and Mark Skrapits combined to go 6-for-8 with five RBI and four runs scored as Fairfield dealt Army a 9-3 setback in a non-league baseball game on a chilly Tuesday afternoon at Doubleday Field.
Nathans went 3-for-4 with three doubles, three runs scored and two RBI, while Skrapits finished 3-for-4 with one double, three RBI and one run scored.
Joey Henshaw led Army at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run. Shaun Wixted and Steve May both collected two hits apiece for the Black Knights, who outhit Fairfield 10-8 in the contest.
The Stags (8-15) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Nathans doubled down the right field line leading off the game and scored on Skrapits' RBI single to center field. Fairfield eventually loaded the bases, but the Stags were unable to add to their lead as Army starter Colin Briant got Tyler Wosleger to pop out and then struck out Chris Horning looking to end the threat.
Army (11-14) tied the score in the bottom of the first as Zach Price led off with a single, moved to second when Ben Koenigsfeld fouled out to right field and scored on J.T. Watkins' RBI single.
Fairfield moved in front for good in the top of the second, scoring three runs to assume a 4-1 advantage. Ryan Plourde drew a walk to lead off the inning and Larry Cornelia was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Nathans then ripped a double down the right field line to score Plourde. Cornelia later scored on a wild pitch, and Nathans plated the third run of the inning when Briant was cited for a balk.
The Stags scored four more runs in the top of the fourth inning to extend their lead to 8-1. Cornelia led off with a walk, stole second and scored on Nathans' third double of the game. Skrapits then hit an RBI double to score Nathans from second. An infield single and a walk loaded the bases for Fairfield, and the Stags scored the final two runs of the inning on consecutive fielder's choice groundouts.
Fairfield pushed across an unearned run in the top of the seventh to make it 9-1.
Army got two runs back in the bottom of the eighth inning to account for the final margin. Henshaw led off the frame by blasting an opposite field home run over the fence in left field, and Cody Murtle belted a pinch-hit home run to left field two batters later.
The game was halted in the top of the ninth inning due to darkness, and the score reverted back to the last completed inning.
Brett Shulick (2-1) picked up the win for Fairfield as he yielded just one run on five hits in four innings. Three Stag relievers combined to allow two runs on five hits in four innings.
Briant (1-2) took the loss for Army after allowing seven runs on five hits and six walks through three innings. John Buckley came out of the Black Knights' bullpen and gave up just two runs (one earned) on three hits in five innings of work.
Army returns to its Patriot League schedule this weekend (April 9-10) when the Black Knights host arch-rival Navy in a four-game series at Doubleday Field. The teams will play doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday with Saturday's action slated to begin at 12 p.m.
Game Notes: Army falls to 6-4-1 all-time versus Fairfield ... the Black Knights saw their five-game win streak snapped ... the start of the game was delayed 59 minutes due to rain ... Henshaw's home run was his first of the season and 19th of his career ... Murtle's home run was the first of his career ... it marks the third multi-home run game of the season for the Black Knights ... Steve May is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak ... John Buckley threw a career-high five innings of relief ... Army wore its pinstripe pants and black jerseys with black caps today.
