Softball Holds off Fairfield in Home Opener

Wednesday, March 23

West Point, NY

4 PM

Army West Point

15-11

Fairfield

9-10

Fairfield

Army

Softball Holds off Fairfield in Home Opener

March 23, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point softball team held off Fairfield in the top of the seventh to defeat the Stags 5-3 in the team's home opener on Wednesday evening. Kristen West earned her eighth win from the circle, while Renee Poirier picked up her fifth save of the season.

"Today's win was a product of how we have been playing as a team," said head coach Michelle DePolo. "I thought we hit the ball well. We really focused on coming out to a great start and our offence kept punching the ball throughout the whole game. Defensively, I thought we played strong, and despite the score at the end, our pitchers shut Fairfield down in some sketchy situations. Overall the win was a great product of how well we played all around today."

Out of the gate, Army (15-11) led Fairfield (9-10) early off a home run by lead-off hitter Kasey McCravey which set the tone for the game. Also in the bottom of the first, Emily Gray doubled to center field sending Ashley Yoo home. Alee Rashenskas then singled up the middle to send Gray home giving Army the early 3-0 lead.

"I think hitting is contagious," added DePolo. "Kasey's early home run gave way for the rest of our lineup to start hitting a little quicker than we had. Those runs are still tacked on when you get into a bind in the seventh like we did so it is important to give yourself that buffer because it is a long game and anything can happen."

In the top of the second, Gray was back up to bat for the Black Knights and a sacrifice hit to center field allowed Yoo to advance home to pad Army's lead, 4-0.

During the next inning, Army notched its final run of the game when, with the bases loaded, McCravey singled to third base which sent Gladys Esparza-Gallegos home.

West only allowed the Stags in scoring position twice until they broke through in the top of the sixth where they tallied their first two runs of the game. West was able to get herself out of a bases loaded jam however to maintain the Black Knights' lead at 5-2.

Renee Poirier stepped into the circle in the top of the seventh for the Cadets and picked up the save after also getting out of a bases loaded situation. The freshman threw two strikeouts before Gray grounded the ball to Rashenskas at first to secure the Army victory.

The Black Knights totaled 11 hits and five RBI on the night with two doubles and one home run. McCravey and Gray each recorded two RBI, while McCravey, Rashenskas and Caroline Smith all notched two hits. West improved to 8-1 on the season and Poirier recorded her fifth save.

Army returns home for the Patriot League opener Saturday and Sunday at the Army Softball Complex when the Cadets take on Boston University. Saturday's games will begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and Sunday's rubber game will start at 1 p.m.

For up-to-date information about Army softball, please follow @ArmyWP_Softball on Twitter and Instagram.