Box Score (Army 7, Texas State 4)
Postgame Notebook
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Joey Henshaw went 2-for-4 with a home run and three runs batted in and Army rode a five-run eighth inning to rally for a 7-4 victory over second-seeded Texas State in an elimination game, Saturday afternoon at the Austin Regional before a crowd of 5,047 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
With temperatures climbing into the low-90s and the playing surface temperature soaring above 105 degrees, the fourth-seeded Black Knights took the blazing field less than 16 hours after suffering a hardfought 3-1 loss to No. 1 national seed and host Texas Friday night. After falling behind Texas State 2-0 and 4-2 on Saturday, Army battled from behind to record the second NCAA Regional win in school history and the second triumph in the Black Knights’ last two trips to the postseason.
"First, I’d like to congratulate Texas State on an outstanding season," stated Army head coach Joe Sottolano. "No question, they are a quality ball club. A lot of people were talking about them being a No. 1 seed, and I can see why. They’re very well-coached and very disciplined.
"I’m glad, obviously, but I don’t think either team was overly pleased with the way they played. But both teams stuck in there and really competed. Both starting pitchers kept the teams close. We were fortunate enough to really come through at the end and show a lot of heart and grit, which I’m really proud of, and come away with a victory."
Ranked in the top 30 of several national polls throughout the season, Texas State jumped out to a 2-0 lead, scoring single runs off Army starter Ben Koenigsfeld in the first and third innings. Paul Goldschmidt stroked a two-out double and scored on a single to right field by Keith Prestridge for the Bobcats’ run in the first. Goldschmidt walked and scored on a two-out single to right by Spenser Dennis in the second as Texas State opened a 2-0 margin.
Army’s offense, which managed just four hits during Friday’s loss to top-seed Texas, was silenced by Texas State starter Brian Borski in the early stages of Saturday’s contest. Despite stranding two runners on base in each of the first two frames, the Black Knights did not register their first hit until Borski had retired the first two batters he faced in the third. It proved to be a milestone hit for Army, though, as Henshaw blasted an opposite-field home run, that not only broke up the no-hitter and the shutout, but ravaged the Black Knights’ record book.
With one swing of the bat, Henshaw broke Army’s single-season records for runs batted in (he had already tied the mark entering the plate appearance), total bases and equaled the school’s single season home runs standard. Henshaw’s 12th longball of the season tied the school record jointly held by Mike Scioletti, who first set the mark in 1997, and Schuyler Williamson, who equaled the figure in 2004. More importantly, the solo homer carried the Black Knights within 2-1 entering the fourth inning.
Army tied the score with an unearned run in its next at-bat, benefitting from a key fielding error by Goldschmidt as Texas State’s first baseman dropped a relay throw from second baseman Kyle Livingstone on the back end of a certain double-play ball. Kyle Fleming, who drew a one-out walk and advanced to second when David Darnell was hit by a pitch, scored from second on the play, knotting the score at 2-2.
The Bobcats (41-7) forged back in front, pushing across single runs in the sixth and seventh innings against Koenigsfeld. Jason Martinson tripled to the gap in right-center field with one out in the sixth. Koenigsfeld then snared a hot smash back through the box by Kyle Kubitza. It appeared Koenigsfeld would escape the inning unscathed as Martinson strayed well down the third-base line on the play. But Koenigsfeld spun and fired wildly down the left-field line, allowing the go-ahead run to cross the plate.
The Bobcats tacked on what appeared to be an important insurance tally in the seventh when Goldschmidt ripped a screaming two-out double off the left-field wall and scored on Dennis’ clutch single through the left side of the infield.
But Army (35-20) fought back against the Texas State bullpen after chasing Borski in the seventh, erupting for five runs on three base hits and a pair of costly Bobcat fielding errors.
Kevin McKague began the stanza by reaching second on a two-base throwing error by Martinson at shortstop. J.P. Polchinski, who had been robbed of an extra-base hit on an amazing diving catch in the right-center field gap by Texas State center fielder Bret Atwood leading off the fourth inning, followed with an RBI single to right field, quickly drawing Army to within 4-3 opposite Texas State reliever Lance Loftin. Following a strikeout on a failed sacrifice bunt try by Fleming, David Darnell singled through the left side of the infield, placing runners at first and second with one out. J.T. Watkins then walked to load the bases.
Tyler Brundidge was summoned from the bullpen to face Army leadoff hitter Zach Price. The Black Knights’ standout freshman second baseman fell behind in the count, before working it full. He then took a 3-2 fastball for ball four to deliver Polchinski with the tying run. Andy Ernesto wasted little time putting Army ahead for the first time as he smacked a blistering line-drive sacrifice fly to left field that scored Darnell with what proved to be the game-winning marker. After Clint Moore reached base on an fielding error by Livingstone at second, Henshaw dumped a two-run single to center field, stretching Army’s lead to 7-4.
"The team came in with a lot of confidence today," expressed Henshaw. "In the later innings we played with a lot of confidence and battled at the plate. That’s what I believe led to our success.
"Coach Sottolano was actually talking before (the eighth) inning about the difference between a win and a loss is a lot of times the amount of heart a team has. I believe all our batters went up, just scrapping and battling and finding any way to get on base. By the time I got up, I think I got down to two strikes and my approach was to get on base any way I could."
McKague came on to close out the win on the mound for the Black Knights in the ninth, recording three straight outs after walking Atwood to lead off the inning. Army’s closer notched his sixth win of the season and extended his consecutive scoreless appearance streak to eight in the process.
Koenigsfeld turned in a solid performance on the mound for the Black Knights. The Patriot League Pitcher of the Year allowed four runs (three earned) and seven hits over seven strong innings beneath a blazing sun, but did not factor in the decision.
"We were still in a position where we were close," offered Koenigsfeld. "With the way our offense has been all year, although we’ve been struggling a little this weekend, I just knew they were going to bust open at some point. I’d just say knowing what we’re capable of makes you realize that might not be as big of a deal when it’s all said and done."
Tyler Anderegg, who worked a scoreless inning of relief during Friday’s loss to Texas, turned in another shutout frame Saturday, working a perfect eighth inning to register the win for Army. Anderegg, who was named a second team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American on Wednesday, pushed his record to 7-2 with the victory.
"I thought Army pitched well," stated Texas State head coach Ty Harrington. "Our offense has been the key to what we’ve done all year long and being able to separate ourselves from opponents in these games. We weren’t able to separate ourselves yesterday or today. I think a little bit of it goes to the pitching performance of the guys Army put out there. I thought Army was a tremendously well-coached team."
With the victory, Army advances to Sunday’s elimination game against the loser of Saturday night’s winner’s-bracket contest between Texas and third-seeded Boston College. Should the Black Knights win that noon-time game on Sunday, they would play the first of a potential two "championship" games against Saturday night’s winner. That game would begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Army would need to win that contest in order to force a second "championship" game on Monday at 1 p.m. A win in that affair would send the Black Knights to a NCAA Super Regional matchup against the winner of this weekend’s Fort Worth Regional.
"The club has really done a terrific job of fighting back throughout the course of the year," praised Sottolano. "There’s been several times in conference where we lost a doubleheader the first day and came back and swept the next day. That shows integrity and shows a little about the character of the people at West Point."
Postgame Notebook
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Joey Henshaw went 2-for-4 with a home run and three runs batted in and Army rode a five-run eighth inning to rally for a 7-4 victory over second-seeded Texas State in an elimination game, Saturday afternoon at the Austin Regional before a crowd of 5,047 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
With temperatures climbing into the low-90s and the playing surface temperature soaring above 105 degrees, the fourth-seeded Black Knights took the blazing field less than 16 hours after suffering a hardfought 3-1 loss to No. 1 national seed and host Texas Friday night. After falling behind Texas State 2-0 and 4-2 on Saturday, Army battled from behind to record the second NCAA Regional win in school history and the second triumph in the Black Knights’ last two trips to the postseason.
"First, I’d like to congratulate Texas State on an outstanding season," stated Army head coach Joe Sottolano. "No question, they are a quality ball club. A lot of people were talking about them being a No. 1 seed, and I can see why. They’re very well-coached and very disciplined.
"I’m glad, obviously, but I don’t think either team was overly pleased with the way they played. But both teams stuck in there and really competed. Both starting pitchers kept the teams close. We were fortunate enough to really come through at the end and show a lot of heart and grit, which I’m really proud of, and come away with a victory."
Ranked in the top 30 of several national polls throughout the season, Texas State jumped out to a 2-0 lead, scoring single runs off Army starter Ben Koenigsfeld in the first and third innings. Paul Goldschmidt stroked a two-out double and scored on a single to right field by Keith Prestridge for the Bobcats’ run in the first. Goldschmidt walked and scored on a two-out single to right by Spenser Dennis in the second as Texas State opened a 2-0 margin.
Army’s offense, which managed just four hits during Friday’s loss to top-seed Texas, was silenced by Texas State starter Brian Borski in the early stages of Saturday’s contest. Despite stranding two runners on base in each of the first two frames, the Black Knights did not register their first hit until Borski had retired the first two batters he faced in the third. It proved to be a milestone hit for Army, though, as Henshaw blasted an opposite-field home run, that not only broke up the no-hitter and the shutout, but ravaged the Black Knights’ record book.
With one swing of the bat, Henshaw broke Army’s single-season records for runs batted in (he had already tied the mark entering the plate appearance), total bases and equaled the school’s single season home runs standard. Henshaw’s 12th longball of the season tied the school record jointly held by Mike Scioletti, who first set the mark in 1997, and Schuyler Williamson, who equaled the figure in 2004. More importantly, the solo homer carried the Black Knights within 2-1 entering the fourth inning.
Army tied the score with an unearned run in its next at-bat, benefitting from a key fielding error by Goldschmidt as Texas State’s first baseman dropped a relay throw from second baseman Kyle Livingstone on the back end of a certain double-play ball. Kyle Fleming, who drew a one-out walk and advanced to second when David Darnell was hit by a pitch, scored from second on the play, knotting the score at 2-2.
The Bobcats (41-7) forged back in front, pushing across single runs in the sixth and seventh innings against Koenigsfeld. Jason Martinson tripled to the gap in right-center field with one out in the sixth. Koenigsfeld then snared a hot smash back through the box by Kyle Kubitza. It appeared Koenigsfeld would escape the inning unscathed as Martinson strayed well down the third-base line on the play. But Koenigsfeld spun and fired wildly down the left-field line, allowing the go-ahead run to cross the plate.
The Bobcats tacked on what appeared to be an important insurance tally in the seventh when Goldschmidt ripped a screaming two-out double off the left-field wall and scored on Dennis’ clutch single through the left side of the infield.
But Army (35-20) fought back against the Texas State bullpen after chasing Borski in the seventh, erupting for five runs on three base hits and a pair of costly Bobcat fielding errors.
Kevin McKague began the stanza by reaching second on a two-base throwing error by Martinson at shortstop. J.P. Polchinski, who had been robbed of an extra-base hit on an amazing diving catch in the right-center field gap by Texas State center fielder Bret Atwood leading off the fourth inning, followed with an RBI single to right field, quickly drawing Army to within 4-3 opposite Texas State reliever Lance Loftin. Following a strikeout on a failed sacrifice bunt try by Fleming, David Darnell singled through the left side of the infield, placing runners at first and second with one out. J.T. Watkins then walked to load the bases.
Tyler Brundidge was summoned from the bullpen to face Army leadoff hitter Zach Price. The Black Knights’ standout freshman second baseman fell behind in the count, before working it full. He then took a 3-2 fastball for ball four to deliver Polchinski with the tying run. Andy Ernesto wasted little time putting Army ahead for the first time as he smacked a blistering line-drive sacrifice fly to left field that scored Darnell with what proved to be the game-winning marker. After Clint Moore reached base on an fielding error by Livingstone at second, Henshaw dumped a two-run single to center field, stretching Army’s lead to 7-4.
"The team came in with a lot of confidence today," expressed Henshaw. "In the later innings we played with a lot of confidence and battled at the plate. That’s what I believe led to our success.
"Coach Sottolano was actually talking before (the eighth) inning about the difference between a win and a loss is a lot of times the amount of heart a team has. I believe all our batters went up, just scrapping and battling and finding any way to get on base. By the time I got up, I think I got down to two strikes and my approach was to get on base any way I could."
McKague came on to close out the win on the mound for the Black Knights in the ninth, recording three straight outs after walking Atwood to lead off the inning. Army’s closer notched his sixth win of the season and extended his consecutive scoreless appearance streak to eight in the process.
Koenigsfeld turned in a solid performance on the mound for the Black Knights. The Patriot League Pitcher of the Year allowed four runs (three earned) and seven hits over seven strong innings beneath a blazing sun, but did not factor in the decision.
"We were still in a position where we were close," offered Koenigsfeld. "With the way our offense has been all year, although we’ve been struggling a little this weekend, I just knew they were going to bust open at some point. I’d just say knowing what we’re capable of makes you realize that might not be as big of a deal when it’s all said and done."
Tyler Anderegg, who worked a scoreless inning of relief during Friday’s loss to Texas, turned in another shutout frame Saturday, working a perfect eighth inning to register the win for Army. Anderegg, who was named a second team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American on Wednesday, pushed his record to 7-2 with the victory.
"I thought Army pitched well," stated Texas State head coach Ty Harrington. "Our offense has been the key to what we’ve done all year long and being able to separate ourselves from opponents in these games. We weren’t able to separate ourselves yesterday or today. I think a little bit of it goes to the pitching performance of the guys Army put out there. I thought Army was a tremendously well-coached team."
With the victory, Army advances to Sunday’s elimination game against the loser of Saturday night’s winner’s-bracket contest between Texas and third-seeded Boston College. Should the Black Knights win that noon-time game on Sunday, they would play the first of a potential two "championship" games against Saturday night’s winner. That game would begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Army would need to win that contest in order to force a second "championship" game on Monday at 1 p.m. A win in that affair would send the Black Knights to a NCAA Super Regional matchup against the winner of this weekend’s Fort Worth Regional.
"The club has really done a terrific job of fighting back throughout the course of the year," praised Sottolano. "There’s been several times in conference where we lost a doubleheader the first day and came back and swept the next day. That shows integrity and shows a little about the character of the people at West Point."
|
