Courtesy of Army West Point Athletics Communications
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Army West Point baseball team (38-18, 21-4 PL) season comes to an end after falling to the No. 3 University of Oklahoma Sooners (47-12, 19-11, XII) 10-1 Saturday afternoon, in Game 2 of the Charlottesville Regional.
How it Happened
In the top of the first, Army threatened Oklahoma starter Braxton Douthit (W, 5-6). Leadoff hitter Derek Berg walked, putting a runner on first. The Sooners cleared the side with a double play.
Oklahoma attacked Army starter Mike Ruggieri (L, 9-2) in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter John Spikerman hit a single up the middle, butting a runner on first. Kendall Pettis grounded out to Ruggieri and was tagged out by Ross Friedrick, Spikerman advanced to second on the play, putting a runner in scoring position. Spikerman stole third. Bryce Madron ripped an RBI double to right center, sending Spikerman in to score, making it a 1-0 game. Ruggieri ended the inning with a strikeout and a groundout.
The Black Knights threatened the Sooners in the top of the second. Leadoff hitter Ross Friedrick walked, putting a runner on first. Oklahoma retired the side with two strikeouts and a groundout.
In the bottom of the second, Oklahoma attempted to extend its lead. With one out, Diego Muniz was hit by a pitch, putting a runner on first. Muniz advanced to second, putting a runner in scoring position. Wallace Clark walked, putting runners on first and second. Army ended the inning with a double play.
The Black Knights threatened the Sooners in the top of the third. With one out in, Chris Barr walked, putting a runner on first. Sam Ruta walked with two outs, putting runners on first and second. The Sooners cleared the side, picking off Ruta at first.
Oklahoma extended its lead in the bottom of the third. Spikerman hit a bunt to Ruggieri, putting a runner on first. Spikerman stole second, putting a runner in scoring position. Pettis grounded out to Chris Barr, advancing Spikerman to third. The Sooners extended their lead with a sacrifice fly by Madron, making it a 2-0 lead. Army ended the inning with a groundout.
The Black Knights threatened the Sooners in the top of the fourth. With one out, Ross Friedrick ripped a single to second base, putting a runner on first. With two outs, Coleson Titus reached on a fielder's choice, and Friedrick was tagged out at second, retiring the side.
Oklahoma got out in order in the bottom of the fourth.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Sooners attacked the Black Knights. Wallace Clark hit a single, putting a runner at first. Clark stole second, putting a runner in scoring position. Rocco Garza-Gongora walked, putting runners at first and second. John Spikerman walked, loading the bases. Pettis hit a two-RBI single to left field sending Clark and Garza-Gongora in to score. Oklahoma went on to score three runs, with an RBI single, and an RBI triple.
Matthew Ronnebaum came in to pitch relief for Mike Ruggieri. Army ended the inning with Derek Berg tagging Anthony McKenzie out at home.
In the top of the sixth, Army attacked Oklahoma. Leadoff hitter Derek Berg hit a single up the middle, putting a runner on first. Junior Sam Ruta ripped a double down the right field line, putting runners on second and third. With one out, Ross Friedrick hit a sacrifice fly to center field, sending Berg in to score, making it a 7-1 game. Oklahoma cleared the side with a fly out.
The Sooners extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Leadoff hitter Wallace Clark hit a solo home run, making it an 8-1 game. With one out, John Spikerman was hit by a pitch, putting a runner on first. With two outs, Spikerman stole second, putting a runner in scoring position. Ronnebaum ended the inning with a fly out.
The Black Knights got out in order in the top of the seventh.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, McKenzie hit a single to Friedrick, putting a runner on first. Ethan Carmichael hit a two-run home run to right field giving the Sooners a 10-1 lead. Patrick Melampy came into the game for Matthew Ronnebaum. With two outs, Wallace Clarke fouled out, ending the inning.
Oklahoma got out in order in the bottom of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, the Black Knights battled against the Sooners. Leadoff hitter Kevin Dubrule ripped a single to right center, putting a runner on first. Dubrule advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting a runner in scoring position. With two outs, Thomas Schreck came into the game to pinch-run for Dubrule. Oklahoma secured the win with a groundout to Braxton Douthit.