WEST POINT, N.Y. – No. 1 Army West Point (31-22, 18-7 PL) clinched its Patriot League record fourth-straight title by defeating No. 2 Bucknell (22-26, 14-11 PL), 12-2, in game three of the best two-of-three game championship series at Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field.
 
The Black Knights brought 11 batters to the plate in a six-run first inning to set the tone in their game-three victory. Army West Point went on to plate 12 runs on 21 hits to earn the League’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship for the 10th time in program history and fourth under head coach Jim Foster, The 21 hits were three hits shy of the Patriot League Championship single-game record.
 
Army West Point sophomore third baseman Sam Ruta went 4-for-4 with two runs to claim Patriot League Tournament MVP honors. Last season’s tournament MVP, junior first baseman Ross Friedrick went 4-for-5 with three runs and an RBI and senior centerfielder Hunter Meade went 2-for-5 with two RBIs to earn all-tournament honors. Sophomore LHP Sean Dennehy pitched 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts in game three after earning the win in game one to join Ruta, Friedrick and Meade on the all-tournament squad.
 
Bucknell senior RHP Austin Odell pushed the series to a third game by allowing just one run through 8.0 innings to earn the win in game two to receive All-Tournament honors. Senior catcher Logan Kellerman and senior first baseman Kendall Pierson joined Odell on the All-Tournament team.
 
Holy Cross freshman third baseman Brendan Jones and freshman second baseman Connor Peek, along with Lehigh sophomore catcher Andrew Nole and sophomore shortstop Tyler Young all made the Patriot League All-Tournament Team.
 
2022 Patriot League Baseball All-Tournament Team
Sam Ruta, Army West Point, So., 3B – Tournament MVP
Ross Friedrick, Army West Point, Jr., 1B
Hunter Meade, Army West Point, Sr., CF
Sean Dennehy, Army West Point, So., LHP
Austin Odell, Bucknell, Sr., RHP
Logan Kellerman, Bucknell, Sr., C
Kendall Pierson, Bucknell, Sr., 1B
Brendan Jones, Holy Cross, Fr., 3B
Connor Peek, Holy Cross, Fr., 2B
Andrew Nole, Lehigh, So., C
Tyler Young, Lehigh, So., SS
 
The Black Knights will learn their postseason destination during the NCAA Division I Baseball Selection Show at noon on Monday, May 30, with coverage on ESPN 2.
 
For more information on the 2022 Patriot League Baseball Championship, visit CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL.
 
No. 2 Bucknell Bison at No. 1 Army West Point (Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field/West Point, N.Y.)

Date	Game	Score	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	Bucknell, 13-3	ESPN+
Thurs., May 26	Championship Series – Bucknell at Army West Point	Army, 12-2	ESPN+

 
2022 Patriot League Baseball Championship – Championship Series – Game Three
AT NO. 1 ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS (31-22, 18-7 PL) 12, NO. 2 BUCKNELL BISON (22-26, 14-11 PL) 2
Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field/West Point, N.Y.
BOX SCORE
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The top-seeded Black Knights pounded out 21 hits and scored 12 runs to defeat No. 2 Bucknell, 12-2, clinching their Patriot League record fourth-straight title on Thursday at Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field.
*Ruta, the Tournament MVP, was one of three Black Knights to finish with four hits. Friedrick, last year’s Tournament MVP, and senior right fielder Carter Macias both went 4-for-5. Macias drove in a game-high four runs.
*Army West Point recorded six hits and brought 11 batters to the plate in a six-run first inning.
*Friedrick, sophomore second baseman Derek Berg and senior catcher Cam Cerruto each drove in a run on consecutive singles. Macias followed with a two-run single before senior centerfielder Hunter Meade’s sacrifice fly plated the sixth run of the first inning.
*Meade doubled to right field in the bottom of the third inning, scoring Macias to extend the lead to 7-0.
*Cerruto lined a single through the right side of the infield for his second RBI of the game in the fourth inning before sophomore designated hitter Brendan Golinski drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Black Knights a 9-0 lead.
*Bucknell got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning when sophomore right fielder Grant Voytovich singled to drive in sophomore shortstop Anthony Sherwin.
*Bison junior centerfielder Kyle Lyons crossed the plate in the seventh inning on senior left fielder Chris Cannizzaro’s ground out, making the score 9-2.
*The Black Knights struck again in the eighth inning when Macias roped a two-run single to right field. Cerruto would also cross the plate on a double play to make the score 12-2.
*Sophomore RHP Mike Ruggieri earned the win after allowing one run on two hits through 2.0 innings of relief. Senior RHP Anthony LoRicco started and tossed 2.1 scoreless innings.
*Lyons went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Sherwin and Voytovich both went 2-for-4 for the Bison.
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.