Army Drops Series Finale to Rutgers 11-6

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Army West Point baseball team fell here Sunday afternoon to Rutgers, 11-6.

With the outcome, the Scarlet Knights swept the neutral site three-game weekend series.

It was a one-run ballgame for much of the day but two big four-run innings for Rutgers ultimately sealed the win.

The Scarlet Knights jumped in front 3-0 after the opening two innings. Army answered though in the top of the third to cut into the lead at 3-2. Jacob Hurtubise started the rally with a one-out walk. He stole second base before Rutgers tallied the second out of the inning. Jon Rosoff then singled through the right side during the ensuing at bat to bring home the speedy sophomore. John McKenna followed that up by getting hit by a pitch to place runners on first and second. After a Rutgers pitching change back-to-back walks drawn by Matt Hudgins and Anthony Giachin scored Army’s final run of the frame.

It remained a one-run ballgame until the designated “home” team registered four runs in the bottom of the fifth to break the contest open at 7-2.

But the Cadets wouldn’t go away, rallying for four runs of their own in the top of the seventh to again pull within one at 7-6. Tim Simoes led-off the inning singling to the shortstop. Hurtubise then reached on a fielder’s choice, which erased Simoes from the base path, before Drake Titus earned a walk to put runners on first and second. During the ensuing at bat, Rosoff loaded the bases after reaching on a fielding error. McKenna then cleared things out with a three-run double to center field. The sophomore advance to third on the play as well. A Hudgins RBI groundout closed Army’s scoring in the inning.

Unfortunately, the Scarlet Knights used three hits and an error to score four runs in the bottom half to extended their lead back to a sizable one at 11-6.

The Black Knights were looking to spark a one-out rally in the eighth after Jax Luzinski walked and Simoes singled but three-straight outs, including a double play ended Army’s hopes abruptly.

Rosoff, McKenna, and Simoes each finished with two hits on the day. McKenna led the Cadets with three RBI, while Rosoff, Hudgins and Giachin accounted for the other three RBI.

Sam Messina was tabbed with the loss on the mound after giving up three runs on three hits and three walks. The junior was able to strikeout a team-best three batters though.