Softball Takes Three-Game Series from Boston U

Sunday, March 27

West Point, NY

1 PM

Army West Point

18-11, 0

Boston U

11-15, 0

Boston U

Army

Softball Takes Three-Game Series from Boston U

March 27, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Down 7-6 with the threat of extra innings on the horizon, the Army West Point softball team rallied late in the seventh inning when Caroline Smith notched a two run RBI double to win the game for the Black Knights 8-7.

"The great thing about this team continues to be that every game someone new steps up in a big way," said head coach Michelle DePolo. "A different person and various aspects of the game whether it's defense, at the plate, base running, or in the circle. There are too many individuals to name that did things to edge us closer or get to that next big play."

The Cadets' win today completed the three-game series sweep over Patriot League foe Boston University in the opening weekend of conference play and pushed Army to 18-11 overall and 3-0 in the league. Today's win also increased the Black Knights' winning streak to seven straight.

"We've done a good job preparing for Boston this week and we had a great day yesterday, so just wanted to keep that rolling," DePolo shared. "We were pretty confident they were going to pitch the lefty again so we knew what adjustments each hitter needed to make versus a tough pitcher. We knew our defense needed to be very strong to get a win and that one inning cost us some runs, but we turned around and had some stellar defensive plays otherwise. Offensively we executed the game plan person for person and someone new kept stepping up when the time called."

Army followed its trend of the series by scoring in the first inning. The Black Knights' first two hits of the game were doubles by Kasey McCravey and then by Mae Wadyka which sent McCravey home.

In the following play Ashley Yoo was grounded out to third, but Wadyka was available to advance to third. Emily Gray then stroked a single up the middle which allowed Wadyka to score giving the Cadets up 2-0.

The Terriers jumped on the board in the top of the second off an error by the Black Knights to bring the score to 2-1. It was three up, three down for the next two at-bats.

During the home half of the third, Army had two outs against them but was able to tack on two more runs by excellent hitting by the heart of the lineup. Gray was able to get on base with a single to right field. Alee Rashenskas then knocked a triple down the left field so Gray could round the bases. Then a single by Gladys Esparza-Gallegos moved Rashenskas home to increase the Black Knights' advantage to 4-1.

Neither team was able to convert in the fourth inning, but Boston rallied off four Army errors in the top of the fifth to get themselves back in the game with a 5-4 lead.

The lead was short lived however as Mae Wadyka was on a mission as the lead-off hitter. She had a bunting single and out ran the throw to first to give the Cadets a chance. Wadyka stole second before a groundout to the pitcher by Yoo advanced her to third. Gray was the next to bat and the Terriers went for the force out at first rather than chance it with Wadyka at home. This play gave Boston its second out, but also tacked on a run for Army who tied things up 5-5.

Boston's chances of scoring were halted in the top of the sixth when an inaccurate lineup call provided the third out. Army tallied a go-ahead point in the home half of the inning when pinch hitter Carrie Reilly stroked a single to left field that sent pinch runner Tyler McKinney home.

In their final at bat, the Terriers added two runs fueled by a triple from L. Hynes. In the bottom of the seventh, the Cadets were able to get the two runs they needed to clinch the three-game sweep. Gray was walked and replaced by Hailey Megge as a pinch runner. A single to right center by Rashenskas pushed Megge into scoring position for Army.

Everyone then advanced after Esparza-Gallegos was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A walk off single by Smith clinched the game for the Black Knights as Megge and Rashenskas scored lifting Army to an 8-7 lead.

"We were talking this week about how even if we are down to our last out, if we get a baserunner on we are confident in our team," DePolo added. "Emily did a great job getting deep into a count and drawing a walk. That's an easy time to try to do too much and win the game on your own, but all we needed was a baserunner and then pass the baton and she did just that. We've been here before offensively and defensively and the whole team did a great job just staying calm and doing the little things for the overall result."

Smith and Gray each had two RBI on the day, while Rashenskas, Wadyka, Esparza-Gallegos and Reilly each had one. Rashenskas, Wadyka and Gray both recorded two hits and Smith, McCravey, Esparza-Gallegos, Maddie Kim and Reilly tallied one apiece. Army totaled eight RBI and 13 hits today with three doubles and one triple. Smith pitched for five innings and was relieved by Kristen West (11-1) in the sixth.

"These games were bigger because Boston is a good team," DePolo said. "They are talented and came to play. Anyone of these three game would have been tough to lose. Hynes had a hand in every game and she's a tough pitcher. Their offense never let up, if anything they got stronger. I'm sure we'll good things from them in the Patriot League this season."

The Black Knights host Sienna Tuesday, March 29 to close-out their six-game home stand with a double header slated for 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

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