Box Score (Army 4, Boston College 3)

Postgame Notebook

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Kevin McKague singled home the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, then worked out of a bases-loaded jam to earn the save off the mound as upstart Army knocked out Boston College 4-3, in an elimination game of the Austin Regional, Sunday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

With the victory, Army advances to the Austin Regional final where they will face No. 1 national seed Texas in a rematch of Friday’s opening round regional contest. The Longhorns won that contest 3-1, then outlasted third-seeded Boston College 3-2 in a marathon 25-inning affair Saturday that ranks as the longest baseball game in NCAA history.

One day after ending No. 2 seed Texas State’s season with a 7-4 victory, the Black Knights ousted Boston College in a riveting affair that ended in stunning fashion when Army’s middle infield combination of shortstop Clint Moore and second baseman Tony Capozzi turned a crisp double-play on a slow hopper to short by Eagle cleanup hitter Mickey Wiswall with one out and the bases loaded.

“First, I’d like to compliment Boston College,” said Army head coach Joe Sottolano. “Obviously what they did last night and then to come back and compete today like they did. From the get go, they swung the bats well. You didn’t see any sign of fatigue or any sign of weakness. I thought they really competed. That is a testimony to not only the players but coaches to get them to participate and to compete like they did today.

“Obviously I compliment our players. I thought we really fought hard. We came out of the gate a little bit slow again, which we’re excited to hopefully change later today. But our guys really showed intestinal fortitude. They really came back scrapped and took the lead.”

Capozzi, who entered the game as a defensive replacement for starter Zach Price to open the ninth inning, accepted a feed from Moore, then fired a strike to first that just beat Wiswall to the first base bag. Joey Henshaw, who also entered the game at first base in the ninth when McKague took the mound, used all six-feet, seven-inches of his physical frame to complete a perfect stretch that helped nip Wiswall.

The dramatic victory sends Army (36-20) to its first regional final, where they will face a highly regarded Longhorn team for the second time in three days and just the second time in school history. The Black Knights will need to defeat the Longhorns on Sunday night to force a second “championship” game of the Austin Regional on Monday at 1 p.m. By virtue of its 2-0 record this weekend, Texas (43-13-1) needs just one win over the Black Knights to capture the Austin Regional championship.

“I’m not looking at a rematch,” said Sottolano. “I’m looking at an opportunity to go ahead and compete for a regional championship. We keep fighting and scrapping for things we want to accomplish and achieve. I’m excited for the players. I’m excited for the people within the program. I’m excited for the people following the Army, not just here but overseas. It’s a big, strong family, and our name represents so much. To be able to give them something to be proud of and to be able to look forward to something, to smile ... to us, that is more important than anything we achieve individually.”

Just as it had done a day earlier against Texas State, Army fell behind Boston College 2-0 early on Sunday. The Eagles scored two runs off Army starter Kirk Porter in the second inning as Barry Butera drew a leadoff walk and scored on a two-out down the right-field line by John Spatola. Robbie Anston’s single to center field delivered Spatola with the second run of the inning.

Army broke through against Boston College starter John Leonard with a run in the fourth inning when McKague ripped a leadoff double to the right-center field gap and scored on a double to left-center by J.P. Polchinski.

The Black Knights took their first lead of the game in the fifth, pushing across two runs on three hits. Price reached on an infield single to open the stanza and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Andy Ernesto. Moore reached on an infield single, placing runners at first and third with one out. After Moore stole second base to place two runners into scoring position, Henshaw ripped an opposite-field double to left field, chasing home Price and Moore to put Army in front 3-2.

Boston College (34-26) tied the score with a single run off Porter in the seventh. Spatola reached on a leadoff walk and stole second base. Porter struck out Annston and Hamlett but could not escape unscathed as Tony Sanchez singled through the left side of the infield to plate Spatola with the tying run. Wiswall followed with a single up the middle, but Tyler Anderegg relieved Porter and struck out Mike Belfiore with runners at first and third to avert further damage.

Army answered right back with what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Price, who went 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored, opened the stanza with a leadoff single to left field. Ernesto followed with his third sacrifice bunt of the game, advancing Price to second. Geoff Oxley relieved Leonard and issued a walk to Moore, the only batter he faced.

Left-handed specialist Nick Bayuk was summoned from the Eagles’ bullpen to face Henshaw and retired Army’s cleanup hitter on a deep flyout to center field. Price tagged on the play and moved to third base. He scored shortly thereafter when McKague scorched reliever Dan Laufer’s first offering into center field for a clutch two-out, RBI single that brought home Price with what turned out to be the game-winning run.

After Anderegg retired the side in order in the eighth, Army survived a serious scare after McKague took the mound to begin the ninth. Spatola led off the ninth with a single off the glove of Capozzi. Anston sacrificed Spatola to second base. Hamlett lined a sharp single to right field, but Spatola was held at third base on the play. McKague, Army’s closer, then hit Sanchez with a 3-2 pitch to load the bases.

That set the stage for the game’s final play, a three-hopper to short that Moore, Capozzi and Henshaw parlayed into a game-ending double-play. The close call at first base set off a wild celebration by the Black Knights, who notched the school’s third NCAA Regional win. It also marked the first time the Black Knights have recorded two victories at the same regional.

Porter allowed three runs on 10 hits in 6.2 innings in a strong starting effort off the mound for Army. He struck out six and walked two. Anderegg, who earned the victory in relief against Texas State on Saturday, garnered his second regional win by firing 1.1 innings of perfect relief versus the Eagles.

McKague, who collected two of Army’s eight hits offensively, notched his seventh save of the season with his scoreless inning of work in the ninth.

The Black Knights, who now stand 3-1 in their last four NCAA Regional elimination games, will square off against Texas in the first of two potential Austin Regional “championship” games Sunday evening. First pitch at UFCU Disch-Falk Field is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT).