Softball Extends Winning Streak, Tops Utah Valley

Saturday, February 20

Cathedral City, CA

8 PM ET

Army West Point

4-6

Utah Valley

2-6

Utah Valley

Army West Point

Softball Extends Winning Streak, Tops Utah Valley

February 21, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Fueled by its wins over Arkansas and Loyola Marymount, the Army West Point softball team recorded its third straight victory at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The Black Knights defeated Utah Valley 10-6 to close out the weekend with a 3-1 record at the tournament.

Utah Valley (2-6) jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the first inning over the Black Knights (4-6). The Wolverines had four runs on three hits at the top of the first to take a 4-0 lead. Then in the home half of the inning, Army was able to gain runs off an RBI single from Caroline Smith and when Kristen McPeek advanced on a throwing error.

The Black Knights denied the Wolverines from scoring in the next two innings. Alee Rashenskas scored for Army scored at the bottom of the third when Gladys Esparza-Gallegos had a one-run RBI to make the score 4-3 in favor of Utah Valley.

At the top of the fourth, the Wolverines extended their lead to 6-3 over the Cadets with two sacrifice hits. The Black Knights were able to score two of their own in the home half of the inning to keep the game within one at 6-5.

McPeek singled to left field for a one-run RBI where Yoo scored. Smith then singled to right field earning an RBI when McPeek found home.

Army took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth when the cadets exploded. McPeek reached on a fielder's choice and a throwing error by the Wolverines pushed both Ashley Yoo and Nena Riccoboni to score. Now leading 7-6, Army tallied two more runs in the fifth inning off a two-run RBI to right field by Smith. McPeek and Kasey McCravey rounded the bases to put the Black Knights ahead 9-6.

At the bottom of the sixth, Army scored a securing run when Yoo had a sacrifice fly to the left field foul line and Hailey Megge scored.

The Black Knights were able to deny Utah Valley any runs at the top of the seventh to secure their third straight victory.

Caroline Smith led Army with four RBIs on three hits. McPeek, Esparza-Gallegos and Yoo also recorded one RBI on the night. Rashenskas had three hits alongside Smith, while McPeek tallied two. Kristen West earned another win from the circle to improve her record on the season to 3-1.

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