The Army West Point baseball team (15-12, 6-2 PL) defeated the Navy Midshipmen (14-15, 7-5, PL) 2-1 in Game 1 of April 3's doubleheader. Army's Addison Ainsworth secured the win for the Black Knights with a walk-off double in the bottom of the 10th inning. In Game 2, the Black Knights defeated the Midshipmen 5-0. Sam Ruta went 2-for-3, while scoring a run, three RBIs, a three-run home run and a double.
GAME 1 (Army Wins 2-1, 10 innings)
With the game tied in the 10th inning, Ainsworth hit a walk-off double, which was the deciding factor in the game as the Black Knights held onto the 2-1 win.
After two scoreless innings, the bats came alive for the Black Knights, attacking Navy starter Matthew Shirah (No Decision) in the bottom of the third. With one out, Ainsworth hit a single to center field, putting a runner on first. Derek Berg reached first on an error by Navy's third baseman Brock Murtha, advancing Ainsworth to second base. Senior Kevin Dubrule ripped an RBI double down the left field line, sending Ainsworth in to score, Dubrule advanced to third on the throw, putting a runner in scoring position; Berg attempted to score on the play but was tagged out at home. Navy ended the inning by tagging Dubrule out at home.
The Midshipmen threatened the Black Knights in the top of the fourth inning. Army starter Mike Ruggieri (no decision) walked the leadoff batter, putting Logan Keller on at first. Keller advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting a runner in scoring position. Navy's Kyle Rausch hit a single up the middle, advancing Keller to third, and putting runners on the corners. The Black Knights retired the side with a fly-out and two groundouts.
Nick Burch reached first on an error, putting a runner on first base. Hudson Lehnertz hit a single to left field, advancing Burch to second, and putting a runner in scoring position. Patrick Melampy came in to pitch relief for the Black Knights in the top of the fifth inning. Melampy retired the side with three strikeouts.
The Midshipmen began their comeback in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Burch walked, putting a runner on first. Burch advanced to second on a throwing error. Lehnertz grounded out to shortstop, advancing Burch to third. Murtha ripped an RBI triple down the right field line, sending Burch in to score, making it a 1-1 game.
In the top of the ninth inning, Navy threatened the Black Knights. Henry Mitchell hit a leadoff single, putting a runner on base. Burch doubled, advancing to third. Army tagged Burch out at home. The Black Knights ended the inning with a groundout.
Navy retired the side in the bottom of the ninth.
With one out in the top of the 10th inning, Alex Smith hit a single to center field, putting a runner on base. The Black Knights retired the side with a double play.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, with one out, Ethan Ellis walked, putting a runner on base. After a fly out to center field, Ainsworth ripped a walk-off double to right field, Ellis advanced to third and scored on a throwing error, securing the victory for the Black Knights.
Game 2 (Army wins 5-0)
After two and a half scoreless innings, the Black Knights attacked Navy starter Russell Thomas (L, 3-3). After walking Ainsworth, Berg reached first on an error by Keller. Ainsworth advanced to third. Junior Sam Ruta hit a 3-run home run, sending Berg and Ainsworth in to score, making it a 3-0 game.
Dubrule ripped a single to right field, putting a runner on first. The Midshipmen got two outs with a groundout and Dubrule got tagged on the play. Russell ended the inning with a strikeout.
Army starter Robbie Buecker (W, 3-2) kept Navy from scoring position in the top of the fourth. Buecker retired the side with two flyouts and a pop-up.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Russell walked Ainsworth, putting a runner on first. With one out, Ruta hit an RBI double to left center, sending Ainsworth across the plate, giving Army a 4-0 lead.
Reece Early came in to pitch relief for Russell. Early retired the side with a fly-out and a pop-up.
In the top of the sixth, the Midshipmen again threatened the Black Knights. With one out, Lehnertz ripped a double down the left field line, putting a runner in to scoring position. Buecker cleared the side with a strike out and a ground out.
The bats for the Black Knights came alive again in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Braden Golinski hit a single up the middle, putting a runner on base. Ellis followed with an RBI single up the middle, Golinski advanced to third and came in to score off an error by center fielder Nick Burch, making it a 5-0 game.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Keller ripped a single up the middle, putting a runner on first. Murtha walked, putting runners on first and second. Army picked up the second out of the inning when Berg caught Murtha stealing first, picking him off.
Buecker walked Eduardo Diaz, putting two runners on base. The Black Knights secured the win with a ground out.
Inside the Box
Game 1
Game 2