Army Wins 14-Inning Thriller, 5-4

Wednesday, March 15

Lakepoint Sporting Community, Emerson, Ga.

2 p.m.

Army West Point

6-10

Alabama State

7-11

Army West Point

Alabama State

Army Wins 14-Inning Thriller, 5-4

March 15, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

EMERSON, Ga. – The Army West Point baseball team posted its second consecutive victory over Alabama State here Wednesday afternoon.

The Cadets needed 14 innings but the Black Knights took down the Hornets, 5-4, at Lakepoint Sporting Community.

The victory handed Army its second straight, after the Black Knights defeated Alabama State on Tuesday night, 13-6.

In Wednesday's game, Army led 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth. But a one-out blast over the right center fence by the designated home team eventually sent the game into extra innings.

It was a battle back-and-forth throughout the next four innings with both teams turning key plays to keep the game alive. The Cadets finally broke through in the 14th after a one-out rally to break the deadlock and pull in front 5-4.

With one out, Josh White singled through the left side. After a Hornets pitching change, White stole second before Jon Rosoff was hit by a pitch to place runners on first and second. Kris Lindner followed that up singling to the shortstop to load the bases. Giovinco then converted on a sacrifice bunt to bring home what would be the eventual game-winning run.

Drake Titus then headed out to the hill for the bottom half and sat the Hornets down in order to retire the side and secure the win.

Lindner finished 3-for-7 with an RBI. White and Tyler Giovinco added two hits each, while four other cadet-athletes posted singles. White notched a game-best two RBI as well.

Titus earned the win on the mound after pitching 3.0 innings allowing just one hit. The rookie fanned three batters during his tenure. Cam Opp started the game going 3.0 innings giving up three hits and three earned runs. Giovinco and Logan Smith added 3.0 and 2.0 innings on the mound, allowing just one hit each. Sam Messina worked the ninth, giving up two hits and one earned run before Blake Walters came in to pitch the 10th and 11th. Walters allowed just one hit during his time on the rubber.

The game marked Army's longest outing since a 2-1 win against Bucknell on April 21, 2012 at West Point. It was also the Black Knights first extra inning contest of the year.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Titus shifts his overall record to 1-1 with the win.
Both teams recorded home runs for the second-straight game, after White, Ray Hernandez, and Gustavo Rios went yard. White's hit was his third career long ball.
Saldivar and Matt Hudgins earned doubles in the contest.
Army posted seven stolen bases, including two from Brandon Lee and David Monge.
The Black Knight pitching staff combined to strike out 16 batters. Giovinco led the group with four punch outs.
The Hornets used five pitchers on the day with Chase Laney being credited with the loss.
Two players recorded multiple hits in the game for Alabama State with Rios and Hernandez registering three and two hits, respectively.
Besides the Hornets' two home runs, the only other extra base hit given up by Army was a double in the eighth.

LINEUP BREAKDOWN
     White (SS): 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, 3 runs, a walk and a hit-by-pitch
     Rosoff (C): 1-for-6 and a hit-by-pitch
     Lindner (2B): 3-for-7 with an RBI
     Saldivar (DH): 1-for-2
        - Giovinco (P/1B): 2-for-4 with an RBI
     Dickerson (1B): 0-for-4
        - Smith (P): N/A
        - McCarthy (PH): 0-for-1
        - McKenna (PH): 0-for-1
        - Titus (P): 0-for-1
     Hudgins (LF): 1-for-4
        - Hurtubise (CF): 0-for-0 and a hit-by-pitch
        - Crompton (PH/LF): 0-for-1
     Martin (3B): 0-for-5 with a walk
     Lee (RF): 0-for-5 with a run and a walk
     Monge (CF/LF): 1-for-5 with a run and a hit-by-pitch

     Opp (P): 3.0 innings, 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 3 strikeouts
        - Giovinco: 3.0 inning, 1 hit, 4 strikeouts
        - Smith: 2.0 innings, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts
        - Messina: 1.0 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks 2 strikeouts
        - Walters: 2.0 innings, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts
        - Titus (win): 3.0 innings, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts

FACTS & FIGURES

The Black Knights posted five runs on 11 hits, while Alabama State notched four runs on nine hits.
Army had a clean sheet out in the field. The Hornets tallied one error.
The Cadets stranded 12 baserunners to seven for Alabama State.

UP NEXT

Army has a day off before traveling to South Carolina for a three-game series with Presbyterian beginning Friday at 3 p.m. The two teams will then meet on Saturday at 2 p.m. before closing out the set on Sunday with an 11 a.m. first pitch. Live stats will be available for all games.