Softball Bounces Back in Nightcap against Siena

Wednesday, March 30

West Point, NY

3:30 PM

Army West Point

18-12

Siena

10-8

Siena

Army

Softball Bounces Back in Nightcap against Siena

March 30, 2016 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WEST POINT, N.Y. – After dropping the first game to Siena 7-6, the Army West Point softball team bounced back to shut out the Saints in the nightcap 5-0.

"The team's resiliency is never a question with this group," said head coach Michelle DePolo. "I thought it was huge that we came out from the early hole that was dug and tied the game up 5-5, then we essentially made it a four inning game. We've been in lots of tight games this season and have been finding ways to win, in game one we had runners in scoring position two of those later runs and just went down a lot quieter than we have been."

The pitching staff had an impressive performance for the Black Knights. Caroline Smith threw a career-high eight strike outs in a hard luck loss in game one. Renee Poirier had a shutout in game two and only allowed four hits, while the team recorded no errors.

"Caroline did a great job coming in early, being ready and calming some hot bats," DePolo said. "It wasn't until about the sixth inning I realized she had a lot of strikeouts. Even though she isn't a high strikeout pitcher, when she hits spots against an aggressive offense, she is always very successful. This team always answers the call and tonight's bounce back was no exception. Renee did a great job in the circle of setting a tone and our defense really played great behind her."

In game one, Siena (10-9) used the long ball to its advantage as two players recorded a home run in the first two innings to take a 5-0 lead. The Black Knights saw success in the home half of the second with three runs. Alee Rashenskas got Army on the board first when a Saints error sent her home. Sam Hartman notched an infield single, and a bad throw by Siena allowed Kristen McPeek and Gladys Esparza-Gallegos to score bringing the Black Knights within three.

Emily Gray stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. She stroked one to the short stop who threw home in the hopes of the force out, but Kasey McCravey was too quick and scored for the Black Knights.

On the next play, Rashenskas notched a bases loaded double to left center to push Army ahead 6-5 as Mae Wadyka and Ashley Yoo scored on the play. Army moved to 19-12 on the season and have won eight of its last nine games.

The Saints retied the game at 6-all when Hess tallied a home run in the fifth. Siena would then rally in the top of the sixth with a game-clinching one-run RBI.

Smith had the hard luck loss in game one despite pitching a career-high eight strikeouts.

The Black Knights' showed resiliency however when they bounced back to win game two by shutout.

Army and Siena were deadlocked at 0-0 until the bottom of the third when Maddie Kim reached first on a single to left field. Nena Riccoboni pushed her to third off a double to center field. An RBI single by McCravey on the next at bat allowed Kim to score and put the Cadets ahead 1-0.

The Saints got a runner into scoring position in the top of the fourth as she advanced to third on a passed ball, but the Black Knights got two-straight strikeouts to deny their attempt maintaining the 1-0 lead.

In the home half of the fourth, Gray was walked and advanced to second on a single by Rashenskas. Smith then reached on a fielder's choice and an overthrow by the Saints sent Gray home and pushed Rashenskas to third and Smith to second base. Then, a one-run RBI by Kim allowed Rashenskas to convert a run padding Army's lead at 3-0.

Kim notched another RBI when Yoo scored in the bottom of the fifth, before a McCravey home run in the sixth secured Army's 5-0 lead.

Poirier retired seven straight with three strikeouts to close-out the game for the Cadets and improve her record to 2-5 in the circle.

"Renee has been serving us well as a closer all season, but she has also shown she's capable of going the distance and handling entire games without hesitation," DePolo added. "She's had some great performances so far as the starting pitcher where we just took a hard luck loss like USC Upstate. A true closer usually won't go in for several innings, but Renee has shown she's effective in various roles."

Rashenskas went five-for-seven on the night to lead the Black Knights with two RBI and one run scored. McCravey tallied two RBI on three hits to break the career record for runs batted in at Army with 139, surpassing Alex Reynolds who has 137.

"This team is deep and I really do have confidence anyone fulfilling roles and playing their respective position on this team," said DePolo. "Even if someone isn't in a starting lineup they not only have the ability to contribute to this team well but they are continuing to develop as a player."

Army moved to 19-12 on the season and have won eight of its last nine games. The Black Knights return to Patriot League play Saturday and Sunday for a three-game series at Colgate.

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