Baseball Walks Off For First Win

Sunday, February 21

Cary, NC

11 AM

Army West Point

1-3

Monmouth

1-3

Monmouth

Army West Point

Baseball Walks Off For First Win

February 21, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

CARY, N.C. – The Army West Point baseball team earned its first win of the 2016 season with a 6-5 walkoff victory against Monmouth on Sunday afternoon at the USA Baseball National Training Center.

Tied at 5 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning after Monmouth (1-3) tied the game on a two-out base hit by Robbie Allesandrine, Army (1-3) was able to push across the winning run on an error with two outs in the inning.

Justin Reece started the ninth with a single up the middle, but was retired on a fielder's choice with Josh White at the plate. White stole second off Monmouth lefty Kyle Ajjan, who walked Kris Lindner with first base unoccupied. White and Linder successfully executed a double steal with David Monge at the plate, but Monge struck out for the second out of the inning. Brandon Lee was up next and his ground ball to second base was misplayed as White scampered home as the deciding run.

"We are playing hard and coming together as a team each game," head coach Matt Reid stated. "We are proud of these guys because they play with great effort every pitch. Coming back today after a doubleheader yesterday, you have to be able to grind it out and we did that today."

Ajjan allowed the one unearned run in 2.2 innings of work and was saddled with the loss in relief of Mike Brambrilla, who started and threw the first six innings. Brambrilla recorded eight strikeouts and walked two, but Army was able to plate five runs against the Monmouth southpaw.

The Black Knights held a 4-3 lead after two innings when they pushed three across in the home half of the second. Alex Dickerson and Keegan Vega each singled to start the rally before Reece moved them up with a groundout. At that point, White came up and delivered a two-run double to tie the game at 3-3. Monge later delivered with an RBI to put Army in front.

Senior right-hander Garrison Franklin threw 7.0 strong innings in a no-decision on the mound for the Black Knights. Franklin allowed four runs on seven hits, struck out four and did not walk a batter. He left the tie game after Monmouth scored in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Allesandrine, who was 3-for-4 with four runs batted in.

"Franklin pitched very well for us," Reid continued. "He attacked their hitters and he had some quick innings because he was locked in to the gameplan. Coach DeCicco did a great job with our pitchers and catchers today."

Dickerson, Vega and Reece each recorded two hits, while White and Monge added base knocks in the win. Dickerson and White each scored twice and Lindner drew two walks.

Senior righty Justin French earned the win on the mound for Army, with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings. He surrendered one hit and one run in addition to walking a batter.

"We have a lot of improving to do in certain areas and we will get back to work this week," Reid added.

Army is back in action on February 26 when it takes on Middle Tennessee State at 3 p.m. in Murfreesboro, Tenn.