.@ArmyWP_Baseball vs. @NavyBaseball with an NCAA Tournament berth on the line is probably the best possible argument for conference tournaments
— Teddy Cahill (@tedcahill) May 13, 2018
What more could you ask for? The best rivalry in sports (I’m not biased) with a berth to the NCAA Tournament on the line. It is a perfect set up.
#1 Navy took down #4 Holy Cross in three games. With their season on the line in game two of the best of three series, the Midshipmen beat the Crusaders 4-0 to force a winner take all game three. Navy came out in game three and beat Holy Cross 4-1 to end the Crusaders season.
#2 Army defeated #3 Bucknell in three games as well. Army dropped game one of the series 4-1, then won a very long rain delayed game two 11-7. Game three was an interesting game; Bucknell grabbed the lead in the second inning but Army tied it with a bases loaded walk in the in the fourth. The Black Knights woke up in the seventh, scoring three runs. Army would give up two in the eighth but would hold on to win 4-3.
Both of these teams facing off for the championship was the only way to have it in the Patriot League. The teams tied for the regular season championship (Navy got the #1 seed by winning the regular season series 3-2), and they nearly swept the season awards:
#PLbaseball 2018 Major Awards and All-League Announced (5.9.18): @NavyAthletics and @ArmyWP_Baseball each claim two Major Awards apiece. @Bucknell_BB grabs one.
Online Link: https://t.co/n6P61pAKdWpic.twitter.com/S2LgMFVPyN
— Patriot League (@PatriotLeague) May 9, 2018
It was meant to be and it’s exactly what we’ll get. The best of three series starts on Friday and the schedule is as follows:
- Game 1: Friday at 1PM
- Game 2: Saturday at 1PM
- Game 3*: Sunday at 1PM (If Necessary)
Prediction
This series will almost certainly take all three games; these two teams know each other so well and are equally talented. No one expected Army to be here, they were picked to finish fifth and that chip on their shoulder gives them the edge over Navy, because Navy was picked by most to win the Patriot League. The Black Knights also wants payback for being swept by the Mids at home.
Game 1: Army 3-Navy 2
Game 2: Navy 4-Army 3
Game 3: Army 6-Navy 4
Army moves on to the NCAA Tournament.
