Army Drops Doubleheader on the Road at Seton Hall

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Army West Point Softball’s (21-14, 6-0) nine-game winning streak was snapped on Wednesday, with the Black Knights falling to the Seton Hall Pirates (21-14, 7-5) in doubleheader action.

In game one, Army held a 1-0 lead up until the bottom of the fourth inning. Then, Seton Hall scored seven unanswered runs in the last three innings to take a 7-1 win.

As for the Black Knights battery, Taylor Brown led the way with two hits, with Samantha Sims adding one hit and one run while Leila Hurst added one hit at Army’s lone RBI in game one.

Amanda Eaglin earned the start in game one, finishing game one with five hits, four runs, three earned runs, three walks and two strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched. Libby Levendowski came in as relief in game one, finishing with two hits and three runs, with one earned run.

As for game two, despite Army outscoring Seton Hall 5-3 in the final four frames, the Pirates took a 10-5 victory, launched off an 0-7 Army deficit to start the first three innings of the game.

Sienna Tepley led the Black Knights in game two, going 3-3 with two bunt singles, one run and one RBI. Breanna Coonfare also added two hits and one run.

Breanna Izzo received the start in the circle for the Black Knights but went on to pitch 2.0 innings, allowing six hits and seven runs, with five of the runs being earned. Katelyn Flanders came in relief and threw four innings allowing three earned runs and five hits.

Amanda Eaglin ultimately took the loss in game one while Breanna Izzo took the loss in game two.

GAME 1
To start the day, the Black Knights practiced patience on the plate, with Ashton White and Caitlyn Newburn both drawing walks in the top of the first. Both advanced into scoring position but were left stranded on the base pads.

In the bottom of the first, two Pirates were able to get on base by being hit by a pitch and drawing a walk, but were also left on the basepaths.

Army strikes first in the bottom of the second, taking an early 1-0 lead.

It started with the Black Knights’ first hit of the day, a single from Samantha Sims. Sienna Tepley drew a walk to advance Sims, then Leila Hurst knocked the ball into center field sending Sims home for an RBI double. This would be the lone run for Army in the game.

Seton Hall doubled in the bottom of the second, but Eaglin and the Black Knights got out of the inning with no damage done to the score.

In the top of the third, Army was able to load the bases drawing three walks, but all players who drew the walks, Caitlyn Newburn, Maisi SIgler and Breanna Coonfare were left on base, keeping it a 1-0 game.

The Pirates added a single in the bottom of the third, but the Black Knights’ defense held strong, still keeping the home team at bay. In the top of the fourth, Sienna Tepley and Emma Murchison each added singles while Ashton White drew a walk, but came up short in scoring a run, sending it to the bottom of the fourth.

Seton Hall would earn two runs off of two hits in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 2-1 lead. Taylor Brown would single in the top of the fifth and Samantha Sims would draw a walk but were kept from scoring.

Then in the top of the fifth and sixth, Seton Hall would go on to score five runs off of three hits and four errors from the Black Knight defense, making it a 1-7 deficit not in the Black Knights’ favor.

Army tried to rally back in the sixth and seventh innings, but came up short, going three and out in the top of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Caitlyn Newborn was able to draw another walk and Sienna Tepley was able to get on base with a single, but both were left stranded, ending the first game.

GAME 2
To start the second matchup of the day, the Black Knights went three-and-out, sending the game to the bottom of the inning.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Black Knights allowed four hits off of three hits and two errors, quickly taking a 4-0 lead. The Black Knights were able to get out of the inning stranding three other Pirates on base, reducing more damage.

The two teams went three and out in the second inning. Army’s bats started connecting in the top of the third inning, with Breanna Coonfare and Sienna Tepley each adding a single, but Army still was able to add any runs.

The home team continued to add runs In the bottom of the third inning, taking a 7-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third, the Pirates totaled three runs off of three hits, while the Black Knights added one error, but were again able to retire the inning with bases loaded.

The Black Knights added their first two runs in the top of the fourth, making it a 2-7 game.

Ashton White reached on an error, then Maisi Sigler reached on a single. At the next at bat, Julia Farris hit an RBI double sending Ashton White home. Then Breanna Coonfare hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Maisi Sigler to score.

The Pirates responded back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs from three hits, making it a 2-10 deficit for the Black Knights.

Army added two more runs in the top of the fifth, making it a 4-10 game.

Tayten Moore reached on a walk then Sienna Tepley reached on a bunt single. Taylor Brown was able to eventually advance Moore home with a sacrifice fly to right field, then Maaika DOnes sent Tepley home on a ground out to the shortstop.

Seton Hall threatened to end the game in the sixth with two hits and getting three runners on base, but the Black Knights defense held strong, sending the game into the final frame.

Breanna Coonfare started the seventh inning with a double in center field. Then two batters later Sienna Tepley singled to right field sending the final run across home plate. Taylor Brown would add another single, but two outs later, the side was retired, ending the game.