ANNAPOLIS, Md. – No. 2 Army West Point (35-22, 18-7 PL) claimed the 2018 Patriot League Baseball Championship on Monday afternoon, sweeping the best two-of-three game series against No. 1 Navy (38-16, 18-7 PL) with a 5-3 victory in game two at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis, Md.

Army West Point freshman third baseman Anthony Giachin, the 2018 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, batted .375 (6-for-16) during the tournament, while driving in the game-winning runs in the deciding game two. Black Knights senior catcher Jon Rosoff, the 2018 Patriot League Player of the Year, batted .474 (9-for-16) with six runs and three RBIs in five postseason games. Rosoff went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the clinching game. The Black Knights bullpen combined to throw 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, while junior reliever Jacob Carte earned the win and all-League junior reliever Cam Opp picked up the save.
 
This is the eighth Patriot League Championship for the Black Knights, who last earned the title in the second year of back-to-back crowns in 2013. Army West Point defeated the Mids, 8-5, in game one of the championship series on Sunday. The series, originally scheduled to begin on Friday, May 18, was postponed for two days due to storms in the Annapolis, Md. area.
 
With the victory the Black Knights clinched the Patriot League’s automatic berth to the NCAA DI Baseball Championships. Regional sites will be announced during the 2018 NCAA DI Baseball Championship Selection Show on Monday, May 28 at Noon ET on ESPNU. Play at the NCAA Regionals begins on Friday, June 1.
 
2018 PATRIOT LEAGUE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES –
Army West Point wins the 2018 Patriot League Baseball Championship
(Best Two-of-Three Games)
Game One – Sunday, May 20
No. 2 Army 8, No. 1 Navy 5
Game Two - Monday, May 21
No. 2 Army 5, No. 1 Navy 3
 
2018 PATRIOT LEAGUE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Patriot League Championship Most Outstanding Player: Anthony Giachin, Army West Point, 3B, Fr.
Tyler Giovinco, Army West Point, LHP, Jr.
Jon Rosoff, Army West Point, C, Sr.
Josh White, Army West Point, 2B, Jr.
Stephen Born, Navy, OF, Sr.
Michael Coritz, Navy, SS, So.
Sean Kamhoot, Navy, RHP, Sr.
Chuckie Scales, Bucknell, CF, Sr.
Connor Van Hoose, Bucknell, RHP, Sr.
Declan Cronin, Holy Cross, RHP, Jr.
Pat McGowan, Holy Cross, RHP, Jr.
 
NO. 2 ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS (35-22, 18-7 PL) 5, AT NAVY MIDSHIPMEN (38-16, 18-7 PL) 3
Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium/Annapolis, Md.                 PLN
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Army West Point freshman third baseman Anthony Giachin, the Patriot League Rookie of the Year, hit a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning to put the Black Knights in front for good, 5-3, as they claimed the 2018 Patriot League Baseball Championship with a two-game sweep over Navy.
*Giachin was named the Patriot League Baseball Championship Most Outstanding Player, helping the Black Knights clinch its eighth League title and a trip to the NCAA DI Baseball Championships.
*Junior RHP Jacob Carte earned the victory, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. Junior LHP Cam Opp earned the save, getting the final two outs of the game.
*Army West Point’s bullpen combined for 3.1 innings of scoreless relief.
*Navy freshman RHP Jared Leins was charged with the loss, allowing three runs on two hits over 0.2 of an inning.
*The Black Knights struck first, as NCAA stolen base leader Jacob Hurtubise led off the bottom of the first inning with a single, stole second and eventually scored on junior second baseman Josh White’s single to take a 1-0 lead.  
*Navy threatened in the top of the second inning as sophomore shortstop Michael Coritz laced a two-out double down the left field line, but sophomore third baseman Jacob Williamson was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first base.
*With a runner at third base, Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Zach Biggers made a diving stop in the hole at second base and threw out Rosoff to keep Army from extending its lead.
*The Mids put runners on the corners with one out in the top of the fourth inning, but Army West Point starting pitcher Matt Ball struck out two, to make it out of the fourth inning unscathed.
*Biggers doubled to left field to put runners at second and third base with one out in the top of the fifth, before senior right fielder Stephen Born grounded out to allow senior center fielder Logan Knowles to score, tying the game at one apiece.
*Rosoff plated one, with a two-out single through the left side to score sophomore first baseman John McKenna, putting Army West Point back in front, 2-1, in the bottom of the fifth inning.
*The Mids answered quickly, as junior designated hitter Liam Lowery hit a two-out home run to left field, tying the score at two apiece in the top of the sixth inning.
*Coritz singled to left field to drive in sophomore catcher Alex Smith, giving Navy its first lead of the game at 3-2, in the top of the sixth.
*Rosoff singled to left field with no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to drive in sophomore left fielder Anfernee Crompton for the game-tying run, making the score 3-3.  
*Giachin followed two batters later with a two-run double to right center field to take a 5-3 lead.
*With two runners on and two out in the top of the eighth inning, junior RHP Sam Messina came on get the final out of the inning.
*Opp retired the final two batters of the game for Army West Point.
*Neither Army West Point starting pitcher Matt Ball, nor Navy senior RHP Sean Kamhoot figured in the decision. Ball allowed three runs on 10 hits over 5.0 innings. Kamhoot allowed two runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE NAVY BASEBALL RECAP
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE ARMY WEST POINT BASEBALL RECAP
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.