Softball Holds off Colgate to Win Series Finale

Thursday, April 28

Hamilton, NY

4:30 PM

Army West Point

31-17, 0

Colgate

8-27, 0

Army

Colgate

Softball Holds off Colgate to Win Series Finale

April 28, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. – After forcing the game to extra innings, the Army West Point softball team was able to clinch a 4-3 victory over Colgate Thursday evening in the series that began earlier this month. The Black Knights scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth and hold off the Raiders for the win.

Gladys Esparza-Gallegos led off the Black Knights in the top of the eighth with a walk and had pinch runner Tyler McKinney take the bag for her. Maddie Kim was then walked to advance McKinney into scoring position for Army. Ashley Yoo tabbed a sacrifice bunt to the third baseman to push McKinney safely to third.

Mae Wadyka loaded the bases with a ball hit to the third baseman who recorded an error on the play. Kasey McCravey reached first on a fielder's choice and picked up an RBI as McKinney scored the go-ahead run to clinch the game for the Cadets.

Army struck first in the game taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Wadyka was the Black Knights lead-off batter and singled up the middle. She then stole second and advanced to third after McCravey singled then ran over to second. Alee Rashenskas notched an RBI sacrifice fly to left field to send Wadyka home putting the Cadets up 1-0.

In the top of the third, Rashenskas was walked and was pushed to second by a single by Emily Gray up the left side. Kristen McPeek then singled, also to the left side, to load the bases for Army. Designated player Caroline Smith singled to the pitcher on the next play and was out at first, but that allowed Rashenskas to pad the Black Knights' lead to 2-0.

It was three up, three down for the Raiders in the first three innings before they could convert any runs. However, in the home half of the fourth, Colgate tallied three off four hits and an error to take a 3-2 lead over Army.

The Cadets played small ball in the fifth in hopes of re-claiming their lead. McCravey had a lead-off walk then stole second to put herself into scoring position. Rashenskas tallied a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher which forced McCravey to third. Gray grounded out to the short stop as McCravey sprinted home to tie the score at 3-all.

Neither team was able to convert runs in the next two innings which pushed the game into extra time where Army was able to secure the game.

Gladys Esparza-Gallegos led off the Black Knights in the top of the eighth and was walked and Tyler McKinney pinch ran for her. Maddie Kim was then walked to advance McKinney into scoring position for Army. Ashely Yoo tabbed a sacrifice bunt to the third baseman to push McKinney safely to third.

Wadyka loaded the bases with a ball hit to the third baseman who recorded an error on the play. McCravey reached first on a fielder's choice and picked up an RBI as McKinney scored the go-ahead run.

With today's win, the Black Knights improve to 31-17 on the season and 11-4 in the Patriot League. Renee Poirier pitched a complete game for Army with five strikeouts to bump her record to 8-5.

Smith, McCravey, Rashenskas and Gray all recorded an RBI in today's solo game, while Wadyka and McCravey had two hits apiece.

The Cadets will be back at the Army Softball Complex for a non-conference doubleheader against Manhattan Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m.

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