Softball Holds Off Wisconsin Green-Bay

Friday, March 11

Clearwater, FL

6:45 PM

Army West Point

9-8

Wisconsin Green Bay

5-14

Wisconsin Green Bay

Army

Softball Holds Off Wisconsin Green-Bay

March 11, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Army West Point softball team defeated Wisconsin Green-Bay 6-5 Friday night with 11 hits and no errors to improve to 9-8 on the season and 2-0 while in Florida.

The Black Knights jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Gladys Esparza-Gallegos crossed home off an RBI single by Ashley Yoo.

The Phoenix bounced back in the next inning to tie things up at 1-all fueled by a single to right center. Wisconsin Green-Bay denied Army from scoring in the bottom of the third to keep the score 1-1.

In the top of the fourth, Wisconsin Green-Bay took a 3-1 lead over the Cadets when back-to-back homers were hit. However, in the bottom of the fourth, Army would rally for five runs on five hits to take a 6-3 lead and ultimately clinch the game.

Nena Riccoboni had a two-run RBI off a Phoenix error that sent home Kristen McPeek and Alee Rashenskas. Mae Wadyka then singled to right center and tallied an RBI as Riccoboni scored.

Wadyka crossed home plate off a single RBI by Emily Gray, and Kasey McCravey stole home off a wild pitch to put the Black Knights up 6-3.

It was three up, three down in the top of the fifth and sixth innings for Army's defense as neither team was able to score. The Phoenix attempted a comeback that was thwarted by Renee Poirier who stepped into the circle in the top of the seventh to relieve winning pitcher Kristen West for a save.

Wisconsin Green-Bay scored two last runs in the seventh fueled by a two-run homer. Army was able to get three quick outs to close-out the game.

Riccoboni led the Cadets in RBI with two, while Gray, Wadyka and Yoo each recorded one. Yoo tallied three hits in the win, and Rashenskas and Wadyka had two. West improved to 5-1 as the ace and Poirier picked-up her third save of the year from the circle.

Army will be back in action Saturday, March 12 for games against South Dakota (9 a.m.) and North Dakota (2 p.m.).

SOUTH DAKOTA – The Coyotes have defeated Texas Tech and LIU Brooklyn this season to bring their record to 2-18. This will be Army's first-ever meeting with South Dakota.

NORTH DAKOTA – North Dakota heads to Florida with a 5-13 record. This will be the first contest between the Cadets and the Fighting Hawks.

USC UPSTATE – The Spartans boast a 17-2 record this season and have won by mercy rule in six contests. USC Upstate's only losses have come from Kent State and Virginia Tech. Army's game against the Spartans will be the first meeting between the two schools.

UMASS LOWELL – The River Hawks have a record of 3-8 this season and have wins over Manhattan, South Carolina State and Campbell. UMass Lowell leads Army 2-0 in the all-time series. The two teams faced each other in 2015 at the USF Under Armour Classic where the River Hawks squeaked by with an 8-7 victory. The Cadets and UMass Lowell had also met earlier in the season at the Charleston Classic and the River Hawks came away with the 13-8 win.

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