Army Concludes Texan Classic, Sees 2-3 Loss to Pitt

STEPHENVILLE, Tx – Army West Point softball (5-9) concluded its appearance in the Texas Classic on Sunday, seeing a one-run loss to the University of Pittsburgh Panthers (8-5), 2-3.

The Black Knights finish the Texan Classic in Stephenville, with their only two losses coming against Pitt. Army saw its three wins against Tulsa, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and tournament host, Tarleton State.

Despite the loss, the Black Knights outhit the Panthers 6-2. Six Black Knights got in on the hitting action: Ashton White, Caitlyn Newburn, Breanna Coonfare, Mia Bonsignore, Emma Murchison and Makaila Moosbrugger. Newburn and Coonfare would each earn one RBI.

Katelyn Flanders earned the start and finished the game pitching five innings, allowing three earned runs, two hits and four walks while striking out five batters in 21 batters faced. Breanna Izzo came in as relief and allowed two walks in three at-bats. Flanders went on to be the pitcher of record and receive the loss.

Army was quiet in the top half, managing only a two-out single from Ashton White before a flyout ended the frame. In the bottom half, Katelyn Flanders set the tone in the circle, retiring the Panthers in order on a foul out, a bunt groundout back to the pitcher and a pop-up to second to keep the game scoreless.

The Black Knights mounted their first threat in the second inning when Mia Bonsignore singled up the middle and Emma Murchison followed with an infield single, putting two aboard with one out. Pittsburgh escaped with back-to-back strikeouts to strand both runners. Flanders answered with another dominant inning, striking out two and inducing a lineout as Pitt remained without a hit.

Army broke through thanks to Pitt’s defense in the third inning. Sienna Tepley reached on a throwing error to open the inning, and after a fielder’s choice erased her at second, Caitlyn Newburn delivered a two-out RBI double through the left side to score Taylor Brown for a 1–0 lead.

Breanna Coonfare immediately followed with an RBI triple to right center, plating Newburn and stretching the advantage to 2–0 on two unearned runs. Pitt threatened in the bottom half, loading the bases on three walks and a stolen base, but Flanders escaped with a flyout and a pop-up to preserve the shutout.

Army again put a runner in scoring position in the fourth inning when Murchison walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, but a strikeout and groundout ended the inning. The Panthers went down in order in the bottom half on a pop-up, a flyout to center and a strikeout.

In the fifth inning, the Black Knights were retired in order on two strikeouts and a flyout. Flanders matched that efficiency, setting Pitt down 1-2-3 for the second straight inning to maintain the 2–0 lead.

Army could not add insurance in the sixth inning, going down on two groundouts and a strikeout. Pittsburgh then turned the game around in the bottom half of the inning. A leadoff walk and stolen base put a runner in scoring position, and a single moved the tying run to third. Pitt then delivered an RBI double down the right-field line to cut the deficit to one. After Breanna Izzo entered in relief, Pitt tied the game on an RBI groundout to first and took the lead on another RBI groundout to short, scoring from third to make it 3–2.

Army made one last push at the top of the seventh. Makaila Moosbrugger singled through the left side, and pinch runner Samantha Sims advanced to second on a passed ball, placing the tying run in scoring position with one out. Sienna Tepley struck out swinging, and then Sims was caught stealing third to end the game.