Army Black Knights Threatened in 5-1 Loss to U.S.F.

TAMPA, FLA. – Army threatened the University of South Florida, an NCAA participant the last three years, in the final three innings before suffering a 5-1 defeat at USF Softball Stadium on Military Appreciation Day at the Bulls Spring Break Tournament Sunday afternoon.

Trailing 4-0 after USF scored a pair of runs in the first inning and two unearned runs in the third, the Black Knights put across a run in the top of the fifth inning on Kasey McCravey’s two-out single to the gap in left field scoring Alee Rashenskas, who beat out an infield hit to start off the frame.

Following a strikeout, Rashenskas moved to second and scoring position when Hailey Megge was hit by a pitch. A lineout to the shortstop produced the second out of the inning before McCravey stepped to the plate.

The Army third baseman ripped her second hit off starter Susan Wysocki (6-0) to drive in the Black Knights’ first run in their last three games following a pair of shutouts.

With Army drawing to 4-1 following McCravey’s hit, Wysocki retired the side with a strikeout looking in stranding Megge at second and McCravey at first base.

The Bulls tacked on an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth when Spivey reached on an infield error to start off the inning, moved to second on a single and scored on Veronica Gajownik’s two-out double to left field to pull ahead 5-1. West stranded a pair of runners with a strikeout swinging.

The run didn’t faze the Black Knights as they continued to threaten in the final two frames in forcing USF to change its pitchers twice.

In the top of the sixth, Xiomara Perez ripped a one out double deep to right field followed by a strikeout in chasing Wysocki. Sam Greiner took over the circle and Rashenskas (2-for-3) greeted her with a single up the middle that moved Perez to third base, but a strikeout ended that threat.

West, who went the distance scattering seven hits, was touched for just two earned runs among the five given up. The sophomore hurler denied the Bulls a run in the bottom of the sixth in stranding their leadoff batter, who beat out a bunt, stole second and was sacrificed to third, on a groundout.

Army challenged in the top of the seventh starting with a walk to Megge that chased Greiner. Karla Claudio took over the circle, and after issuing a walk to the first batter she faced, she nipped Army’s rally retiring the side on a strikeout and back-to-back infield popups to earn her sixth save of the season.

USF jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with Juli Weber tripling home the first run and scoring the second on Lee An Spivey’s sacrifice bunt for what would prove to be all the runs needed.

Army stranded runners in all but one inning in leaving 10 on base, including a pair in each of the final three frames.

Army collected seven hits off two of the three pitchers it faced with McCravey and Rashenskas each belting a pair.

The Black Knights (7-13), playing six games over three days since their arrival in Florida for the USF Tournament, are idle until Wednesday, March 18, when they take on Canisius in a doubleheader starting at noon.

Following the doubleheader, Army returns home for its Patriot League and home debut at the Army Softball Complex hosting Colgate in a three-game series over the weekend (March 21-22).