BETHLEHEM, Pa. – No. 2 Army West Point (28-23) clinched its third-straight League title with a 6-1 victory over top-seeded Lehigh (24-19) in game three of the best two-of-three Patriot League Baseball Championship Series at J. David Walker Field at Legacy Park.
 
Black Knights’ senior right-handed pitcher Ray Bartoli turned in his first collegiate 9.0-inning complete-game victory, allowing one run on six hits and five strikeouts to earn a spot on the 2021 Patriot League Baseball All-Tournament Team. Sophomore first baseman Ross Friedrick went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in the decisive game to earn Patriot League Tournament MVP honors.
 
Senior third baseman Anthony Giachin received all-tournament honors for the third time, while junior catcher Cam Cerruto made the squad after hitting three home runs during the League championship for Army West Point.
 
The Mountain Hawks pushed the series to game three after a 4-1 win over the Black Knights in game two. Senior right-handed pitcher Matt Svanson earned the victory in game two, allowing one run over 8.0 innings. He earned a spot on the 2021 Patriot League All-Tournament Team with junior first baseman Gerard Sweeney and junior third baseman Joe Gorla.
 
Lafayette freshman right-handed pitcher Luke Benneche and senior outfielder Colin Hartey, along with Navy junior right-handed pitcher Dalton Baker and junior catcher/outfielder Christian Policelli made the all-tournament squad for their performances during the semifinal round.
 
2021 Patriot League Baseball All-Tournament Team
Ross Friedrick, Army West Point, So., 1B – Tournament MVP
Anthony Giachin, Army West, Sr., 3B
Cam Cerruto, Army West Point, Jr., C
Ray Bartoli, Army West Point, Sr., RHP
Gerard Sweeney, Lehigh, Jr., 1B
Matt Svanson, Lehigh, Sr., RHP
Joe Gorla, Lehigh, Jr., 3B
Luke Benneche, Lafayette, Fr., RHP
Colin Hartey, Lafayette, Sr., OF
Dalton Baker, Navy, Jr., RHP
Christian Policelli, Navy, Jr., C/OF
 
For more information on the 2021 Patriot League Baseball Championship, visit CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL.
 
The Black Knights will learn their postseason destination during the NCAA Division I Baseball Selection Show at noon on Monday, May 31, with coverage on ESPN2.
 
 
No. 2 Army West Point at No. 1 Lehigh (J. David Walker Field at Legacy Park/Bethlehem, Pa.)

Date	Game	Result	Coverage
Wed., May 26	Championship – Army West Point at Lehigh	Army, 22-7	ESPN+
Thurs., May 27	Championship – Army West Point at Lehigh	Lehigh 3-1	ESPN+
Thurs., May 27	Championship – Army West Point at Lehigh	Army, 6-1	ESPN+

 
GAME TWO 2021 PATRIOT LEAGUE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
AT NO. 1 LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (24-18, 17-10 PL) 3, NO. 2 ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS (27-23, 15-10 PL) 1
J. David Walker Field at Legacy Park/Bethlehem, Pa.
BOX SCORE
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh senior right-handed pitcher Matt Svanson allowed one run on five hits over 8.0 innings to lead the top-seeded Mountain Hawks to a 3-1 victory over No. 2 Army West Point to send the Patriot League Championship Series to a third game.
*Svanson, in the longest start of his collegiate career, struck out four and walked two to earn his fourth victory of the season.
*Sophomore reliever Will Grisack tossed a scoreless ninth inning to record the save.
*Patriot League Player of the Year Casey Rother, senior right fielder Eric Cichocki and freshman second baseman Tyler Davis each scored runs for the Mountain Hawks. Junior first baseman Gerard Sweeney and sophomore catcher Adam Retzbach each drove in runs.
*Freshman shortstop Riley Davis went 2-for-3 and reached on a walk for Lehigh.
*Army West Point junior centerfielder Hunter Meade scored the Black Knights’ lone run in the top of the first inning.
*Freshman left-handed pitcher Connley Early tossed 5.0 scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out six.
*Sophomore right-handed pitcher Robbie Buecker took the loss, allowing three runs, one earned, over 3.0 innings.
RECAPS: LEHIGH | ARMY WEST POINT
 
GAME THREE 2021 PATRIOT LEAGUE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
NO. 2 ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS (28-23, 15-10 PL) 6, AT NO. 1 LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (24-19, 17-10 PL) 1
J. David Walker Field at Legacy Park/Bethlehem, Pa.
BOX SCORE
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Army West Point senior right-handed pitcher Ray Bartoli earned the complete-game victory to help the Black Knights clinch their third-consecutive Patriot League Championship with a 6-1 win over Lehigh.
*Bartoli, who had tossed 8.1 innings in Army West Point’s series-clinching win over Lafayette in the semifinals, allowed one run on six hits with five strikeouts in a career-long nine innings.
*Sophomore first baseman Ross Friedrick went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, while Meade, Giachin and senior right fielder Jeremiah Adams each had two hits in the win.
*Senior right fielder Eric Cichocki went 2-for-3 with one double and one run, and Rother went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
*Meade scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by senior second baseman Tim Simoes in the top of the first inning to give the Black Knights a 1-0 lead.
*The Black Knights plated two more runs in the second inning, as Meade drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in a run before junior shortstop Kevin Dubrule’s sacrifice fly scored Adams.
*Dubrule scored in the fifth inning, crossing the plate on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice.
*Lehigh got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning when Rother’s sacrifice fly scored senior right fielder Eric Cichocki cutting the Black Knights’ lead to 4-1.
*Friedrick added a two-run home run over the right-field fence in the top of the ninth inning to provide insurance in the Black Knights’ 6-1 victory.
RECAPS: LEHIGH | ARMY WEST POINT
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth 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.