Army Softball Secures Patriot League Fourth Seed

HAMILTON – The Army West Point softball squad (14-37, 9-9 PL) sealed the series against Colgate (22-28, 8-10 PL) to lock in the fourth seed in the Patriot League Championship.

Game 1
Both sides were scoreless in the opening inning. Army’s starter, Amanda Eaglin, supported by the Army defense, kept Colgate hitless in the bottom of the inning, retiring the first three batters.

Army’s offense ignited in the top of the second. Starting the scoring, Sam Bocis singled down the right field line and advanced to third on two Colgate errors, bringing Ellie Caldwell home.

Following that, leadoff batter Kayla Edwards doubled down the right field line, driving in Bocis and Mikayla Klepfer.

Colgate replied in the bottom of the second. Nimah Dougherty of the Raiders doubled down the right field line, bringing in a run and narrowing Army’s lead to two runs heading into the third inning.

Army failed to score in the top of the third, shifting momentum to Colgate entering the bottom of the inning. Eaglin prevented hits until there were two outs. Then Colgate’s Kiley Shelton hit a two-run homer, tying the game.

Both teams remained scoreless from the fourth through seventh innings, leading to extra innings.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the ninth inning when Colgate secured a walk-off run.

Game 2
Army quickly started scoring in the top of the first. Leadoff hitter Kayla Edwards and second-slot hitter Ashton White both secured hits to set up a sacrifice bunt for Parker Llantero to advance Edwards into scoring position.

Caitlyn Newburn executed her task, sending one to center field to bring Edwards home and put Army on the board.

Army doubled their lead when White sneaked home off a caught stealing distraction from Newburn.

Starting Army pitcher Olivia Farris and the defense kept the Raiders from scoring. The Raiders’ leadoff hitter got a hit, but momentum was halted when catcher Emma Murchison caught her stealing.

Colgate’s defense found their groove in the top of the second, delivering Army a 1,2,3 inning.

Army’s defense kept Colgate at bay, preventing them from scoring in the bottom of the second.

Carrying the momentum into the top of the third, White hit her fifth home run of the season, bringing herself and Kayla Edwards home and stretching the lead to 4-0.

In the fourth inning, Colgate got on the board, scoring two off a single and a fielding error.

Army had answers in the top of the fifth. Llantero singled, sending Bocis and Edwards home, putting Army back up by four.

Colgate failed to score in the bottom of the fifth, setting Army up for a significant sixth inning. Starting with an Ellie Caldwell single to left field, Army added one to go up 7-2.

Then, Sam Bocis doubled for two RBI, stretching the lead to 9-2.

To cap off the inning, Kayla Edwards hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Bocis.

Heading into the bottom of the sixth, Colgate wasn’t ready for the game to end. Nardone hit a home run to center field, forcing the seventh inning.

In the top of the seventh, Army added three to their lead off a walk and two runs on outs, keeping them at a comfortable 13-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Colgate wasn’t ready to give up. The Raiders added two runs off a single and a fielding error, prompting Army to make a pitching change.

Izzo retired the first two batters she faced, but Colgate managed to get one more run off an RBI single.

However, Izzo and the defense secured the third out, and Army claimed the series and the last spot in the Patriot League Championships.

The Black Knights will head to Boston University to participate in the Patriot League Championships. The schedule is TBD.