Bucknell Stuns Army, 7-6, After Ninth-Inning Rally

Sunday, March 31

Lewisburg, Pa.

1 p.m.

Army West Point

15-12, 0

Bucknell

8-20, 0

Army West Point

Bucknell

Bucknell Stuns Army, 7-6, After Ninth-Inning Rally

March 31, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Army West Point baseball team dropped a heartbreaker to Bucknell here Sunday after the Bison scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to steal the 7-6 win.

The Black Knights held a 6-3 lead heading into the final frame but three hits allowed and four walks, one intentional, ultimately doomed the visitors. Army was looking for its first weekend sweep after wins in both games of Saturday's doubleheader. With Sunday's victory though Bucknell ended that hope and earned its third Patriot League win of the year. The Cadets dip to 4-3 in league play.

John McKenna brought home two of Army's final six runs in the game. He closed out his day 2-for-4 with a run scored. Anthony Giachin, Blake Ledoux and Drake Titus all added runs batted in, while Jacob Hurtubise accounted for two Black Knight runs.

Starter Daniel Burggraaf went the first 6.0 innings allowing five hits, one walk and just one run. The senior also struck out six in the no decision.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Four of Army's final six runs came with two outs.
The Cadets notched two extra base hits in the game and they came from the bats of Giachin and McKenna.
Hurtubise stole three bases on the day to shift his season number to 21.
Trey Martin also registered a stolen base.
Hurtubise and Andre Walden led the team with two walks each.
Hurtubise reached base a game-high four times.
Ray Bartoli, Cam Opp and Harry Flannery Jr. each saw action on the hill for Army in relief.
Opp was tagged with the loss after giving up four hits, four runs and four walks in 2.0 innings of work.
As a pitching staff the Black Knights compiled nine strikeouts but allowed nine walks.
Bucknell finished with eighth strikeouts and six walks.
The Army pitchers did not allow an extra base hit.
Dominic Toso compiled three hits, three RBI and one run to lead the Bison. He was the only Bucknell player to finish with multiple hits in the game.
The home side turned the game's only double play and it came during the seventh inning.

How It Happened

For the sixth-straight game Army struck first with a run in the opening half inning. Hurtubise started things off earning a leadoff walk. He advanced to second on a throwing error before shifting to third on a groundout. Two batters later Hurtubise stole home for his first steal of the game.
The home side pulled even in the bottom half of the first when they registered a one-out singled through the right side to score a runner from second.
The Black Knights broke that deadlock in the fourth when they recorded two runs on two hits. Walden led-off the frame singling to the shortstop. McKenna then followed suit with an RBI-double down the left field line. McKenna advanced to third on the play as well after the Bison tried to throw Walden out at home. During the next at bat Ledoux tallied an RBI-groundout to score McKenna and hand Army the 3-1 edge.
Two more runs came home for the Cadets in the fifth, extending their advantage to 5-1. Hurtubise found himself on third with two outs in the frame. Giachin then doubled to left field to easily score the junior. After a Walden walk during the ensuing at bat placed two runners on, McKenna drilled his second hit of the game to score Giachin from second.
The Cadets started the bottom of the seventh with a pitching change. The home side quickly jumped on the change and finished the inning with two runs on no hits to cut into the lead at 5-3. Bucknell tallied four walks during the inning as well.
Army grabbed one of those runs back in the eighth when Titus hit a bases loaded single to score Ledoux.
The Black Knights took their 6-3 edge into the bottom of the ninth but three-straight singles and numerous walks ultimately hindered the visitors as Bucknell put up four runs to steal the win.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Cadets earned six runs on six hits, while Bucknell finished with seven runs on nine hits.
The Bison were the only team credited with an error in the game.
Army stranded four runners on base. Bucknell left eight.

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