Army West Point Edges the Hawks of Lehigh

WEST POINT – The Army West Point baseball team edged the Mountain Hawks of Lehigh 5-2 in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader on Sunday from Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field.

Lehigh (21-27, 9-10 PL) starter Sam Ashey tossed an efficient first inning, needing just eight pitches to retire the Black Knights (16-30, 6-13 PL) in order. The Mountain Hawks scored the game’s first run in the top of the second on a hit by Anthony Rinaldi. The single scored Ryan Bonshak, who reached on a one-out walk.

Army responded with a three-run second inning to take its first lead of the series. Hits by McCarthy and Page opened the inning, with a walk by designated hitter Alex Dickerson loading the bases two batters later. Ryan Levenhagen’s walk tied the game at one apiece before David Monge singled in Page for the second run of the inning. A sacrifice fly to right field by Kris Lindner scored Dickerson who evaded a tag at the plate with an acrobatic slide.

Now pitching with a two-run cushion, Army starter Daniel Burggraaf settled into the game, retiring 11 of the final 12 batters he faced.

In the third inning, a sacrifice fly by McCarthy scored Josh White, who led off the inning with a double. Two innings later, Jon Rosoff was hit by pitch with the bases loaded to stretch the Army lead to 5-1.
The inning started with a single by Monge before walks by Lindner and White loaded the bases for the sophomore third baseman.

Senior Justin French came in for the seventh inning in his final game on Doubleday Field. Lehigh managed to push across one run, but would be controlled by French to preserve the victory.

Due to weather, the fourth and final game of the series has been cancelled.

With Lafayette beating Holy Cross in game two today, the Black Knights were eliminated from Patriot League tournament contention.

The Black Knights’ final three games of the season will be next weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday, May 7, at Hartford before hosting the Hawks at Palisades Credit Union Park, home of the Rockland Boulders, on Sunday, May 8. Saturday’s twin bill is scheduled to start at noon, while Sunday’s game is set for a 2 p.m. start.