WEST POINT, N.Y. – No. 1 Army West Point scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure an 8-7 comeback victory over No. 2 Bucknell in the first game of the best two-of-three Patriot League Baseball Championship Series at Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field on Tuesday.
Black Knights’ senior catcher Cam Cerruto’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in senior left fielder Nick Manesis for the walk-off win. Manesis and junior first baseman Ross Friedrick each plated runs with RBI singles in the final frame to help Army West Point take game one.
Live coverage for game two of the Patriot League Baseball Championship Series will begin at 1 p.m. on ESPN+. Zack Wilson will be on the call as the Black Knights aim for their fourth-straight League crown.
CLICK HERE for more information on the 2022 Patriot League Baseball Championship.
No. 2 Bucknell Bison at No. 1 Army West Point (Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field/West Point, N.Y.)
| Date |
Game |
Score/Time |
Coverage |
| Tues., May 24 |
Championship Series – Bucknell at Army West Point |
Army, 8-7 |
ESPN+ |
| Wed., May 25 |
Championship Series – Bucknell at Army West Point |
1 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
| Thurs., May 26 |
Championship Series – Bucknell at Army West Point (if necessary) |
1 p.m. |
ESPN+ |
2022 Patriot League Baseball Championship – Championship Series
AT NO. 1 ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS (30-21, 18-7 PL) 8, No. 2 BUCKNELL BISON (21-25, 14-11 PL) 7
Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field/West Point, N.Y.
BOX SCORE
WEST POINT, N.Y. –Cerruto’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted top-seeded Army West Point to an 8-7 walk-off win over No. 2 Bucknell in game one of the Patriot League Baseball Championship Series.
*The Black Knights erased a two-run deficit in the final frame with RBI singles from Manesis, who went on to score the game-winning run, and junior first baseman Ross Friedrick.
*Manesis went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while Friedrick went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Black Knights.
*Army West Point sophomore LHP Sean Dennehy picked up the win in relief, retiring one batter in the top of the ninth inning.
* Bucknell senior catcher Logan Kellerman went 2-for-2 with three RBIs to lead the Bison offense.
*The Bison struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, as junior designated hitter Mason Kelly drove in a run with a bunt single before Kellerman’s sacrifice bunt plated the second run of the game.
*In the top of the fourth inning, Kellerman extended the lead with an RBI single, and senior second baseman Brendan Lowery scored from third base on a throwing error to take a 4-0 lead.
*The Black Knights answered in the bottom of the inning, bringing nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs, highlighted by a two-run single from sophomore second baseman Derek Berg.
*Bucknell regained the lead in the fifth inning on sophomore third baseman Jacob Corson’s RBI single. Kellerman drove in a run on a single in the sixth inning to extend the Bison lead to 6-4.
*Army West Point sophomore third baseman Sam Ruta’s RBI single in the bottom of the sixth brought the Black Knights back within one run, but the Bison took advantage of an Army miscue when junior pinch-runner Jacob Terwilliger scored on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth inning.
*The Black Knights’ first four batters of the bottom of the ninth inning reached base, including consecutive singles from Ruta, Manesis and Friedrick before Cerruto’s game-winning sacrifice fly.
*Bucknell freshman RHP Tyler O’Neill was charged with the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, in 3.1 innings.
RECAPS: BUCKNELL | ARMY WEST POINT
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athlete 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.