Army West Point Falls to Wright State in Game 3

DAYTON, OH – The Army West Point baseball team (6-8, 0-0 PL) fell to the Wright State Raiders (5-9, 0-0, Horizon) 9-7 in Game 3 Sunday afternoon. Army’s Sam Ruta went 4-5, having two RBIs, a run, a double, and a triple.

Junior Sam Ruta put a runner in scoring position for the Black Knight after hitting a triple to center field. Army struck first to get on the board with Ross Friedrick ripping a single to left field, sending Ruta in to score. The Raiders got out of the inning with a ground out and a fly out.

With two outs in the bottom of the first, Wright State attempted to get on the board with Gehrig Anglin hitting a single, Army starter Mike Ruggieri got out of the inning with a groundout.

In the top of the third inning, the Black Knights were all over Wright State starter Luke Stofel. Friedrick hit a double down the left field line, putting a runner in scoring position.

Senior Kevin Dubrule sent Friedrick in to score, putting the Black Knights up by two runs. Braden Golinski followed with a 2-run home run to right field, making it a 4-0 game.

The Raiders attempted to cut into Army’s lead in the bottom of the fourth. Jay Luikart hit a leadoff double, putting a runner in scoring position. With one out, Sammy Sass hit a single, putting runners at the corners. Wright State got on the board when Julian Greenwell hit a single through the left side sending Luikart across the plate, making it a 5-1 game. Army got out of the inning with a strikeout.

With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Derek Berg blasted a double to left field, putting a runner in scoring position. Alex Theis came into relief for the Raiders. Sam Ruta hit a double down the left field line, sending Berg home to score, making it a 5-1 game. Warren Hartzell came into pitch for Wright State, getting out of the inning after Berg fouled out

In the bottom of the inning, Wright State responded with Luikart hitting a triple, putting a runner in scoring position for the Raiders. Anglin made it a two-run game after hitting a 2-run home run, making it a 5-3 game. Army’s Joe Valchar came into relief for starter Mike Ruggieri. With runners at the corners, Bryce Brownlee came in for Army. The Black Knights got out of the inning after getting Sammy Sass out at home.

Wright State came back in the bottom of the seventh inning with Boston Smith hitting a leadoff triple off Brownlee, putting a runner in scoring position. With Dom Trippi pitching for the Black Knights, Luke Arnold sent Smith into score after hitting a single, making it a one run game. After advancing to second off a wild pitch, Brian Stoner hit a sacrifice fly, sending Stoner across the plate tying the game 5-5.

Steve Graver came into relief for Trippi. The Raiders went on to add three runs, making it a 9-5 game.

In the top of the eighth inning, freshman Addison Ainsworth hit a leadoff home run, making it a 9-6 game.

Relief pitcher Cameron Gallagher came in for the Raiders.

With a runner on second, Army got within two runs after Ruta hit an RBI single, sending Thomas Schreck across the plate, making it a 9-7 game. With Joey Valentine pitching for Wright State, the Raiders got out of the inning with a ground out and a strike out.

In the bottom of the inning, Wright State had a runner in scoring position with two outs. Pitcher Sean Dennehy got out of the inning after Sammy Sass got out at second.

With two outs in the top of the ninth, Army threatened to tie the game. The Raiders walked Williams Parker and Addison Ainsworth, putting Parker in scoring position. Wright State got out of the inning with a pop up to first.