Army West Point Black Knights Split With Fordham

BRONX – The Army West Point softball team took the second half of its doubleheader with Fordham, 9-8, thanks to an offensive explosion in the first two innings Sunday afternoon. The Rams took the first contest 5-3.

In the first game, Fordham jumped to a 2-0 by the bottom of fourth inning.

Grace Snyder answered back for the Cadets in the top of the fifth with a solo shot to right center, which cut the Rams’ lead to one. Fordham answered back in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run shot off the bat of Brianna Pinto to make it 4-1.

In the top of the sixth, Ally Snelling again made it a one run game, sending a two-run homer over the right field fence. The Rams got a run back in the bottom of the sixth to push ahead 5-3.

Emily Iannotti got the start in the circle for the Cadets. She pitched 6.0 innings and struck out five batters.

Army’s bats were hot early in the second game. The Black Knights had consecutive four-run innings in the first and second to start the game.

Madi Gilmore started things with an RBI single up the middle, which scored Snelling from second. In the next at bat, Snyder belted her second homer of the day with a three-run blast, which gave Army the 4-0 lead.

The Cadets stayed hot in the bottom of the second. Angelina Bebek hit a 2 RBI double out to right field, which scored Annie Brock and Lauren Little. Bebek came around to score later on in the inning, after Taylor Livingston grounded out to short. Army tacked on its final run of the inning with Snelling scoring on an RBI triple off the bat of Leila Hurst.

Alicyn Grete did not allow a hit through the first three innings of play, but the Rams put an end to that in the fourth. Fordham hit back-to-back home runs, with the first being a two-run shot to cut Army’s lead to 8-3.

Snelling hit a solo shot with two outs in the fifth, which gave Army the 9-3 lead and proved to be crucial for the Cadets.

Fordham answered back in the bottom of the sixth a three-run two-out rally to cut the Black Knights lead to 9-6. The Rams staged another two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh. Anne Prentiss hit a solo shot to cut Army’s lead to two. Then two at bats later Michaela Carter tripled to center field, which scored Aubrey Barney and made it a one run game.

With the tying run at third base, Brianna Pinto slapped a ball out to left field which was hugging the foul line. Brook Mitchell came in and made a diving catch to put away Fordham’s chances and give Army the win.