Box Score

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Kevin McKague went 4-for-6 with two doubles, two runs scored and three runs batted in and Clint Moore keyed an eight-run fifth with a three-run home run as Army raced past South Carolina-Upstate 17-10, Friday afternoon at Harley Park.

The Black Knights (2-2) fell behind early 3-1 before tying the score at 3-3 with two runs in the top of the third inning on an RBI single by McKague and a run-scoring double by Ben Koenigsfeld.

Both teams plated single runs in the fourth inning before Army erupted for eight runs on five hits to grab a 12-4 advantage in the top of the fifth. McKague began the uprising with a leadoff double to right-center field off South Carolina-Upstate reliever Barrett Stover. After a groundout by Koenigsfeld and a walk to Joey Henshaw, J.P. Polchinski followed with a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield. Kyle Fleming walked to load the bases before  pinch-hitter David Darnell was hit by a pitch to force in the Black Knights’ second run of the inning. Zach Price drew a walk to force in another Army run, chasing Stover from the contest. Andy Ernesto then greeted Spartan reliever Dennis McCraney with a two-run single to right field, stretching the Black Knights’ lead to 9-4. Moore’s three-run home run to straightaway center provided Army with an insurmountable eight-run cushion.

The Black Knights added two runs in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single to center field by Price and a run-scoring single to right by Moore. Army plated three more scores in the eighth to seal the verdict.

Junior left-hander Matt Fouch upped his record to 2-0 in earning the victory on the mound for the Black Knights. He allowed eight hits and five runs over five innings of work, striking out six and walking five. Kyle Brueggeman permitted three base hits and one unearned run over 2.2 innings in relief of Fouch, while Ryan Davis yielded three hits and four unearned runs over the final inning and one-third.

Stover (0-1) suffered the loss for South Carolina-Upstate, permitting two hits and six earned runs during his one-inning relief stint. He walked three and did not strike out a batter.

“We got some big hits a clutch times early in the game,” said head coach Joe Sottolano. “I like the way we sung the bats. We took an aggressive approach and again showed the ability to put up runs in bunches, which is fun to watch.

“I thought Matt Fouch battled, despite not having his best stuff. He didn’t locate that well today, but really battled through another hardfought effort. As a team, we are still not playing our best baseball, though. This team has a ton of potential, but we have to slow the game down and become more consistent. We must stay mentally sharp throughout games and that’s something we didn’t do today, as witnessed by the four fielding errors we committed.”

Price finished 2-for-2 with three walks, three runs scored and two runs batted in during his starting debut at second base and Murtle added two hits and two runs scored in three official plate appearances. The Black Knights piled up season-high 16 hits in the game.

Army and South Carolina-Upstate are scheduled to continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday. First pitch at Harley Park is slated for 1 p.m.

Black Knights Blog: Army has registered double figures in base hits in three of its four games ... Zach Price made his debut as Army’s leadoff hitter and reached base on all five plate appearances (two hits, three walks) ... Kevin McKague doubled twice during Army’s six-run fifth inning ... it marked his first two doubles of the season after setting an Army record with 19 two-baggers last spring ... Clint Moore smashed his second home run in four games after hitting six round-trippers last spring ... Moore is hitting third in head coach Joe Sottolano’s batting order after batting leadoff last season ... Moore is batting .389 with one double, one triple, two home runs and a team-best eight runs batted in so far this spring ... McKague has driven in six runs  to stand second ... Moore leads the club with 16 total bases, followed by McKague with 11 ... Army scored at least one run in six of nine plate appearances Friday ... Matt Fouch ran his personal winning streak to six games, dating back to last season ... he had walked a total of four batters in his previous five contests, but walked five on Friday ... he boasts a 9-4 career record ... Friday’s game was delayed 1:05 by rain.