CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – No. 1 Navy (39-16, 18-7 PL) sophomore right-handed pitcher Jared Leins allowed two runs on four hits over a career-long 8.0 innings to earn a 4-2 victory over No. 3 Army West Point (33-24, 15-10 PL) in the second game of the best-of-three Patriot League Championship Series at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium on Saturday.
The 2019 Patriot League Baseball Championship comes down to Sunday’s game three with coverage on the
Patriot League Network (PLN) beginning at 2 p.m. The Patriot League Champion will receive the League’s automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.
This series will mark the fifth time that the Patriot League Championship Series will go to a third game since the beginning of the best-of-three championship series format in 2008. Navy won the last three-game series, defeating Holy Cross in 2016.
For more information on the 2019 Patriot League Baseball Championships, visit
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL.
2019 PATRIOT LEAGUE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
AT NO. 1 NAVY MIDSHIPMEN (39-16, 18-7 PL) 4, NO 3 ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS (33-24, 15-10 PL) 2
Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium/Annapolis, Md.
GAME 2:
BOX SCORE
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Leins allowed two runs on four hits over 8.0 innings to lead Navy to a series-tying 4-2 victory in Saturday’s game two in Annapolis, Md.
*He struck out eight while walking just one in the most extended action of his career. The sophomore is 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA and 17 strikeouts in two postseason starts this season.
*Navy senior RHP Jackson Zoch earned the save tossing a perfect ninth inning.
*The fourth through seventh hitters in Navy’s lineup each went 2-for-4, including freshman first baseman Zach Stevens, senior catcher Christian Hodge, senior left fielder Liam Lowery and junior third baseman Jacob Williamson. The Mids pounded out 11 hits.
*Army West Point senior LHP Tyler Giovinco took the loss, allowing four runs on 11 hits over 8.0 innings.
*The Mids struck first in the top of the second inning on Liam Lowery’s RBI single. Freshman designated hitter Christian Policelli was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in one run, and Lowery scored on a double play to put the Mids in front 3-0 in the top of the second.
*Army West Point sophomore left fielder Andre Walden threw out Navy’s Williamson at home to deny the Mids an opportunity to extend the lead in the top of the fourth inning.
*Sophomore catcher Blake Ledoux scored Army West Point’s first run in the bottom of the fifth inning, crossing the plate on a ground out by junior right fielder Drake Titus.
*Junior center fielder Jacob Hurtubise followed with a single up the middle to score senior shortstop Josh White, making the score 3-2.
*Junior right fielder Evan Lowery singled to right field in to drive in Policelli in the top of the seventh inning to extend Navy’s lead back to two runs.
*The Black Knights’ first two batters in the bottom of the ninth inning reached base, but Navy’s Zoch came on to record three outs to earn the save and send the series to a third game.
RECAP: ARMY WEST POINT |
NAVY
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The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.