TAMPA, FL. – Army West Point Softball (3-10) dropped a heartbreaker to University of Illinois Chicago (3-12), 1-0, in extra innings on Sunday afternoon.
It was a battle of the pitchers for the first three innings as neither team was able to get the bats going at the plate. Jolie Duong (3-3) was dealing for the Black Knights dishing out four strikeouts in the game.
Army recorded its first hit in the top of the fourth, a base hit off the bat of Madi Gilmore. The senior was stranded on base as the Black Knights could not capitalize. The Cadets shut the Flames down in the bottom half of the inning to get back to the batter’s box. Both teams were silent in the fifth inning, neither recording a hit.
In the top of the sixth, Julianna LaRusso fired off a leadoff double to left center to get momentum going for Army. The next two batters came up short at the plate, but Leila Hurst earned a trip to first base after being hit by a pitch. Unfortunately, Army was unable to keep the momentum going stranding the two Cadets on base. UIC got a runner aboard in the bottom frame, but Army quickly shut it down by turning a double play.
In the top of the seventh, Ellie Caldwell hit a double to right field. With two outs on the board, Angelina Bebek followed with a double of her own. Caldwell rounded the bases but was beat out by the ball at home plate. Army retired the first three batters for the Flames to send the game into the extra innings.
Army came up short at the plate in the top of the eighth and headed to the field. UIC was about to plate one run to win 1-0, in walk off fashion, over the Black Knights.
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