Black Knights Finish Season at NCAA Regionals

Saturday, June 4

Hattiesburg, MS

1 PM

Army West Point

31-25

Kennesaw State

36-27

Army West Point

Kennesaw State

The outfielders for the Black Knights huddle at the NCAA Regionals in Hattiesburg, MS

Black Knights Finish Season at NCAA Regionals

June 04, 2022 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Army West Point baseball team fought until the very end of the Hattiesburg NCAA Regional, but came up short against Kennesaw State, 9-8, on Saturday afternoon at Pete Taylor Park.

Army (31-25) finishes its season with a fourth-straight visit to an NCAA Regional and won the Patriot League Championship for the fourth time in a row.

Carter Macias and Sam Ruta led the Black Knights at the plate on Saturday. Macias was 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and a run scored, while Ruta blasted his seventh homer of the season. The third baseman batted .500 in the Regional with two runs scored and an RBI.

Matthew Ronnebaum got the start for the Black Knights and went three innings, allowing one earned run and two strikeouts.

The Black Knights struck first with Ruta's seventh homer of the year as he fouled off a couple of pitches and then went deep to right center to give Army the early 1-0 lead. Kennesaw answered in the bottom of the third with Josh Hatcher hitting a homerun and then the Owls scored on a groundout for the 2-1 lead after three.

Cam Cerruto gave Army the advantage again with a one-out double to center field with the bases loaded, plating Nick Manesis and Ruta to make it 3-2 Black Knights. Macias continued the momentum with a two-run single through the right side to push the lead to 5-2. Cerruto and Ross Friedrick scored on the single. Another run was added as Brayden Golinski recorded a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Derek Berg, giving Army a 6-2 advantage through four innings.

Kennesaw State tied the game with a four-run fifth inning, highlight by Hatcher's second homer of the day. The Owls regained the lead in the sixth, scoring on a wild pitch to make it 7-6.

Army fought right back and tied the game again with Cerruto reaching on a fielder's choice that scored Kevin Dubrule and it was a 7-7 game. The Owls took back the lead with Nick Hassan finding a hole up the middle to score two runs to make it 9-7. Army added one in the top of the eighth with Dubrule grounding out for a fielder's choice, scoring Carter Macias.

Coaches Corner
"I'm proud of our guys. This is our fourth consecutive year being in a regional. We're still trying to figure out a way to get over the hump and win a few games in this thing. Proud of our guys. It's a lot of fun and the journey was outstanding. These guys laugh and they play ball and it's so nice to see them be able to do that as well as serve our country and be heroes to all of us by what they represent. One percent of the population at their age group does what they do. They're the best of the best. I wish the room was full right now to talk about these kids. There's no one better, no matter what the scoreboard says. That's a fact, not just in my book, but a lot of people's. I think the world of them and pretty soon I hope to figure out how to start winning these regional games. But, Kennesaw State bounced back and did a good job."

Cadet's Corner
Army West Point RF Carter Masias
On Regional Experience
"These regionals are one of the best experiences of playing baseball and going through West Point. We live to go to these regionals and want to win games. We want to get to a super one day. These regionals are crazy for us because we live for them, but I hope we can get over the hump next year. As a senior class, I know we moved the program forward and that next year we'll be back here and winning some games."

Army West Point 3B Sam Ruta
On Performance at the Plate and Home Run
"I felt pretty comfortable at the plate today. I was seeing the ball well and was able to put a few good swings on the ball over a couple at bats. I wouldn't have been in that position if not for the guys in front and behind me for putting me in such a good situation."

Follow Along
For complete coverage of Army West Point Baseball, follow the Black Knights on Twitter and Instagram at @ArmyWP_Baseball and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com.