Army Battles in Patriot League Opener at Bucknell

LEWISBURG, PA. – The Army West Point baseball team dropped a pair of games to Bucknell in its Patriot League opener on Saturday afternoon at Depew Field, falling 7-3 before suffering a 5-3 loss to close out the day.

The Black Knights (5-15, 0-2 PL) fought hard all the way through, working the tying run into at least the on-deck circle in both games opposite the Bison (8-11, 5-1 PL).

Bucknell 7, Army 3
The first game between the Bison and the Cadets was decided by an explosive sixth inning for the home team. Bucknell capitalized on two Army errors, putting up five unearned runs to claim the 7-3 result.

Though Hunter Meade and Carter Macias reached base in the top of the seventh with a double and a walk, respectively, Army’s tying run was left in the on-deck circle.

Errors were costly for the Black Knights throughout the game, as a miscue in the opening inning allowed the Bison to take a 2-0 lead. In response to the early push, Braden Golinski tied up the score with a two-RBI triple that drove in both Cam Cerruto and Nick Manesis.

Both starters settled in over the next few frames, which saw starting arm Connelly Early face just three over the minimum. Following two scoreless innings, Army took its first lead in the top of the fifth when Ross Friedrick’s sac fly plated Carter Macias, putting the Black Knights ahead 3-2. The Cadets threatened to do further damage when Kevin Dubrule, who doubled, advanced to third base, but the Bison relieved the pressure.

After retiring the side in the fifth, Early was relieved by Matthew Ronnebaum in the following frame once an error and a knock got the go-ahead run on board. Bucknell capitalized on the pitching change, as well as an additional Army error, to gain their final margin of victory and hit Early (1-3) with the loss.

Bucknell 5, Army 3
Army’s second clash with its hosts was decided by a splurge of early scoring. Over the opening three innings, the Bison used a triple, a double and an inside-the-park home run to take a 5-0 lead over the Cadets.

Following the spree, starting pitcher Robbie Buecker was able to limit the Bison offense, pitching two scoreless innings before handing things over to Dom Trippi in the bottom of the sixth. On the other side of the ball, Army’s offense struggled to get going and was credited with just one hit through five frames.

Trippi got into trouble quickly during his relief appearance in the sixth, allowing the Bison to load up the bases. With just one out recorded, he was relieved by Tyler Prichard, who retired two-straight batters to end the threat.

The Black Knights’ offense carried some of the momentum generated by Prichard’s exciting performance into the next inning, which Nick Manesis led off with a solo shot. His team-best third home run of the year made it a 5-1 ballgame in favor of the Bison.

Down the stretch, Army’s pitching staff used the tandem of Prichard and Teddy Lepcio to hold the home team scoreless. Prichard retired the side in the seventh, while Lepcio worked around a pair of runners in the eighth, ending the frame with a punchout.

Following a quiet eighth inning, the Cadets put up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to bring the team within striking distance. Manesis got things started with an RBI single that sent Dubrule in before Derek Berg joined in on the scoring with a two-out double that plated Manesis. Though Army worked the tying run to the plate, it was unable to overcome its deficit.

Buecker was tagged with the loss, moving him to 0-1 on the season.