Black Knights Make It Four Straight

Wednesday, April 5

West Point

3:30 p.m.

Army West Point

12-16

Manhattan

6-17

Manhattan

Army West Point

Black Knights Make It Four Straight

April 05, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point baseball team defeated Manhattan here Wednesday afternoon, 7-5, in the Black Knights' home opener.

With the win, Army has now won four-straight games dating back to Saturday's 10-5 win at Lafayette. The last time the Cadets reeled off four consecutive wins was March 7-15, 2015, when the Black Knights earned a win over Coppin State before sweeping a three-game series with Massachusetts.

On Wednesday, the Jaspers quickly opened the scoring when Brendan Bisset launched a ball over the right field fence on the third pitch of the game.

The Cadets responded in the bottom of the third after they brought home three big runs. Trey Martin started the inning singling through the left side. Josh White and Jacob Hurtubise shifted him to third base with sacrifice bunts before John McCarthy singled through the left side to tie the game at 1-1. On the ensuing play, Kris Lindner reached on an error by the center fielder, which allowed two more runs to cross home plate.

Manhattan notched one run back in the fourth to make it a one-run ballgame but the home team posted a four-run fifth inning to create a 7-2 gap between the teams. Senior Alex Dickerson and Martin both recorded extra base hits during that inning with Dickerson registering his second triple of the year and Martin his third double.

The Jaspers would not go away though tallying three runs of their own in the sixth to pull within 7-5. The two teams made quick work of the next two innings, which set up for an interesting final frame. Manhattan opened the top of the ninth with a one-out single to center field. Army recorded the next out of the inning but the Jaspers were hit by a pitch on the ensuing play to place runners on first and second. During the next at bat, Manhattan earned a walk to load the bases. After a pitching change by the Cadets, rookie Carter Van Gytenbeek threw one pitch and forced Evan Brown to fly out to left field to end the visitor's rally just shy.

Dickerson had himself a day, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run. Hurtubise, McCarthy, Martin and Matt Hudgins all recorded multiple hits with McCarthy and Martin each adding an RBI.

10 Army pitchers saw action in the game, as head coach Jim Foster rotated them after each inning. Cam Opp was credited with the win after pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball. The sophomore struck out one batter during his time on the hill. Van Gytenbeek came in to earn the final out of the game, securing the rookie his third career save.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Opp shifts to 2-1 on the year with the win.
Van Gytenbeek has not given up a run in his last 3.1 innings of work. During that time, he has also allowed only one hit, while striking out four.
Two of Dickerson's three hits on the day were for extra bases.
Army allowed two long balls in the game to right and center field.
The Black Knights swiped four bases throughout the game, while the Jaspers' took one.
Both teams were caught stealing.
Three Manhattan players posted multiple hits with Dominic Palma finishing 3-for-4 with a run.
Ryan Takacs was credited with the loss after giving up six hits and four runs, two of which were earning, during his 4.0 innings of work.
Army's pitching staff combined for five strikeouts, including two from the hand of starter Mike Gagliardi.
Wednesday's game marked Gagliardi's first career start.
Both teams turned a double play.

LINEUP BREAKDOWN
     Hurtubise (CF): 2-for-4
     McCarthy (LF): 2-for-4 with an RBI and 2 runs
     Lindner (2B): 0-for-4 with a run
     Hudgins (RF): 2-for-3 with a run and a walk
        - Lee (RF): N/A
     Rosoff (C): 0-for-4
     Saldivar (DH): 1-for-3 with a run and a walk
     Dickerson (1B): 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and a run
     Martin (3B): 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run
     White (SS): 0-for-3

   Gagliardi (P): 1.0 innings, 1 hit, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
        - Carte: 1.0 innings, 1 strikeout
        - Giovinco: 1.0 innings, 1 strikeout
        - Titus: 0.2 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk
        - Opp (W): 1.1. innings, 1 strikeout
        - Walters: 2 hits, 3 earned runs
        - Santoro: 1.0 innings, 1 walk
        - Mortensen: 1.0 innings, 2 hits
        - Messina: 0.2 innings, 1 hit, 1 walk
        - Van Gytenbeek (S): 0.1 innings

FACTS & FIGURES

Army posted seven runs on 12 hits, while Manhattan finished with five runs on nine hits.
Both teams earned an error in the game.
The Cadets left six runners on base. The Jaspers stranded nine.

UP NEXT

Army heads to Bucknell over the weekend for a four-game series with the Bison.
The weekend series with Bucknell will be divided up into two doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday with first pitch set for noon on both days. All games will be played at Depew Field.
Live stats will be available for each contest.