Box score (Game 1)
Box score (Game 2)
WEST POINT, NY—Army, which is tied for first place in the Patriot League baseball standings, took two mostly comfortable non-league wins against visiting NJIT Saturday afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader from the Highlanders, 13-4 and 16-9, in Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field on the campus of the United States Military Academy.
The Black Knights, who were the 2008 Patriot League regular season champions, raised their overall 2009 record to an impressive 27-17 with Saturday's sweep.
NJIT began the day by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning of the opening game, but Army answered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the inning and then continued to add on at least two runs in all but one of its remaining turns at bat. The Highlanders scored twice in their final turn in the seven-inning game, but it was nowhere near enough and the home team won easily, 13-4.
The nightcap, a nine-inning game, did not get away from the Highlanders until the middle innings. And they actually came up with a big six-run seventh inning to close the score to 12-8, but Army had too much remaining firepower, putting up a four-spot of its own in the bottom of the seventh to help stave off NJIT's challenge and eventually win, 16-9.
Army pounded out 14 hits, including two doubles, a triple and a home run and also drew eight bases-on-balls, plus a hit-by-pitch in the opener. On top of that, the Highlanders, who have been playing outstanding defense recently, were charged with four errors.
The game one hitting leader for the Black Knights was CF Ernie Ernesto, who finished 3-for-3, plus two bases-on-balls. Four other Army players got two hits apiece, including SS Clint Moore, who was 2-for-3, with a home run and a game-high four runs batted in. C JT Watkins (2-for-4) doubled on both of his hits.
Matt Fouch (5-3) started and went the first six innings to earn the win. He scattered six hits and allowed two runs, while striking out five and walking three Highlanders. Reliever Manny Fernandez was touched for two runs in one inning.
The starter and losing pitcher for NJIT was senior LHP Matt Melody (0-6). He yielded 11 hits and 11 runs (eight earned) in five innings. Junior RHP Chris Parenti allowed two runs in one inning of relief.
Senior DH PJ Saporito was the only Highlander with more than one hit, finishing the game at 2-for-3, including his second home run of the season. Saporito's two-out homer in the first inning gave NJIT its short-lived lead.
Freshman Jeff Salerno pinch hit in the seventh inning and drove in two runs with his first college home run.
Although the Highlanders grabbed a 2-0 lead in the opening frame, the bottom half turned ugly fast as Army's leadoff batter reached base on an error and the next three men walked. A triple by LF Ben Koenigsfeld later in the inning plated two runs and the Black Knights picked up their fourth run on NJIT's second error of the inning.
Already ahead for good, Army scored two in the second inning on Moore's home run and then tacked on two runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth.
The nightcap was a game of swings, as NJIT again led early, picking up a run in the top of the first inning. Scoreless in its half of the first inning, Army pulled even with a run in the bottom of the second, before the Highlanders got their second run and led, 2-1, heading to the bottom of the third.
Army pulled ahead for good, going up, 3-2, with a pair of runs in the third, before blowing the game open with a total of nine runs in the next three frames, topped by a seven-run fifth inning.
Trailing after six, 12-2, NJIT made a push, scoring six times in the seventh inning and once more in the eighth, but Army nearly negated the Highlanders' six-run top half of the seventh by scoring four times in the bottom half.
Koenigsfeld, the Black Knight starter in the second game, raised his season record to 7-3, but was charged with eight runs on 10 hits in 6.1 innings. Two relievers worked the last 2.2 innings, limiting the visitors to one run on one hit.
For NJIT, freshman RHP Reid Okita (1-5) made his second start of the season. His first start was a solid six-inning, three-run effort in a 4-2 loss to another strong opponent, Binghamton, last Sunday. He did not fare as well at West Point on Saturday, allowing eight runs on six hits and nine walks.
Salerno, pitching in relief in the second game after homering as a pinch hitter in game game, struggled as well, allowing six runs over the next three inning. Senior tri-captain Thomas Farina, appearing as a pitcher for the first time in his career, finished up with a scoreless inning.
Army hit five doubles and two home runs in the second game, including Clint Moore's second four-bagger of the day and eighth of the season. He was 2-for-4, with four RBI in the nightcap. The other home run for the Black Knights came off the bat of LF David Darnell, who had a team-best three hits in six at-bats. The home run was his first of the season.
NJIT got 11 hits of its own in the second game, paced by LF James D'Aloia, who was 3-for-5. 3B John Berner was 2-for-5, with four runs batted in.
LF Jeffrey Pizzi, heating up at the plate late in his freshman season, was 2-for-4, with two runs scored and two batted in hitting in the leadoff spot. He has hit safely in nine straight games, going 13-for-28 (.464) during the streak, which began on April 15.
Saporito (1-for-5) also drove home a pair of runs for the Highlanders.
Berner had a two-run double and Pizzi and Saporito each hit two-run singles in NJIT's six-run seventh inning.
The teams are scheduled for a single game on Sunday starting at 1 pm in West Point.
