I love this song! #BeatNavy pic.twitter.com/sQcNoBmCrh
— Inside & Outside Army (@InOutArmy) May 19, 2019
For the fourth time in three weeks, Army has won a Patriot League championship. This time it was the baseball team. They took Navy down in three games to win the Patriot League for the second straight year.
Game 1 saw the Black Knights light up the best pitcher in college baseball, Noah Song for five runs through the first two innings. This was Noah Song’s first loss of the season. The Patriot League leader in RBI’s Anthony Giachin, drove home five for the Black Knights.
Game 2 was a pitchers duel that saw the Mids win a 4-2 nail biter.
Today was the decisive game 3. Winner take all. Winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Black Knights got to work early, Jacob Hurtubise worked a four-pitch walk to open the game. He stole second base and then Anthony Giachin drove him in with a single to right field.
M1st | RBI-SINGLE FROM GIACHIN!
Black Knights take an early 1-0 edge. Burggraaf heads out to the hill for the first time today. pic.twitter.com/EtHnOgPQzZ
— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) May 19, 2019
Neither team did much of anything until the bottom of the fourth. Daniel Burggraaf started the inning off by striking out Zach Stevens. Stevens reached when the ball went to the back stop. The next batter grounded the ball to shortstop Josh White but he threw in past the second baseman and there were still no outs. Navy went on to score and tie the game up later that inning.
The very next inning, after a triple by Evan Lowery, the Mids took the 2-1 lead on a sacrifice ground out.
The Black Knights would respond very quickly though, tying the game back up on an Andre Walden sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth.
M6th | TIE BALLGAME! Walden converts on a SAC fly to score Hurtubise from third. We head to the bottom of the sixth knotted at 2-2.
Burggraaf back out on the mound for the Cadets. pic.twitter.com/C6U7adA564
— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) May 19, 2019
The Black Knights were hungry for more, in the top of the seventh, Josh White stepped to the plate with Carter Macias on second. White singled to left scoring Macias and Army had the 3-2 lead.
M7th | ? on ?!!! White scores pinch runner Macias from second to hand Army the 3-2 edge. Opp now in to pinch for the Black Knights in relief. pic.twitter.com/hxn246Ta1k
— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) May 19, 2019
Navy would not go down without a fight however, down by one in the eighth, Zach Biggers stepped to the plated against Cam Opp. Biggers hit a solo home run to left field to tie the ballgame back up at three. It was Biggers first home run of the season.
Giachin led off the top of the ninth with a double and the Black Knights were in business. Walden moved him over to third with a sacrifce bunt. Next up was Jeremiah Adams, the .243 hitter was 0-3 on the day. He smacked a ball into left field and the Black Knights took the lead back.
M9th | ADAMS WITH THE GO-AHEAD RBI-SINGLE!!! His hit scores Giachin from third.
Opp will face Navy’s 8, 9 and 1 batters in bottom half.
Army 4, Navy 3 pic.twitter.com/AsFctb1esl— Army Baseball (@ArmyWP_Baseball) May 19, 2019
Three outs away from the championship, Cam Opp came back to the mound and closed the Mids out. Navy got a runner to first but it didn’t matter. Army held on to win 4-3.
This is Army’s ninth Patriot League title which is the most in the league (Navy is in second with seven). The Black Knight will find out where they’re heading on May 27th and noon on ESPNU.
