Army Defeats Austin Peay, 5-2 to Take Series

CARY, N.C. – The Black Knights took game two of the series vs. Austin Peay by a score of 5-2 on Saturday evening at the USA Baseball Complex to take the series.

The Black Knights took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back, scoring the first run as Andre Walden came home on a wild pitch by Governor starter Jula. Then Ross Friedrick delivered a sac fly to plate Carter Macias.

The Governors got to Army starter Patrick Melampy with a sac fly of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning, but that is all they would get off the starter as he tossed 6.0 innings, scattering two hits with one walk and a career-high 11 strikeouts.

Freshman Sam Ruta had a day at the plate for the Black Knights, accounting for two of the Black Knights’ three hits on the day. His first was a X. In the fourth inning he blasted his first career home run to center field, a two-run shot to put the Black Knights up, 4-1. Then in the sixth inning, he tripled to centerfield, scoring Cam Cerruto all the way from first to make it 5-1, Black Knights.

The Governors got on the board in the seventh inning off Army reliever Tanner Gresham with a single and then the run came home on an error by Army’s left fielder, but the Black Knights got out of the inning without any further damage.

The reigning Patriot League Pitcher of the Week, Ray Bartoli took care of the rest, locking in his first save of the year, a 2.0 inning save as he tossed two scoreless as the Black Knights won, 5-2.