April 24, 2012

Courtesy of Army Athletics

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. -- For the first time in program history, the Army baseball team has moved into the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 30. The Black Knights, who have been knocking on the door the last four weeks, sit 30th in this week's rankings.

Army (33-9, 16-0 PL) has won nine straight games and 28 of its last 33 contests dating back to early March. The Black Knights, who have already clinched their sixth Patriot League regular-season title in nine years, also rank 30th in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll.

Army is coming off a four-game series sweep of conference rival Bucknell last weekend. The Black Knights' dominant pitching staff held the potent Bison to just two runs over 38 innings during the four-game set. Army has limited its last two Patriot League opponents (Lafayette and Bucknell) to four runs over 70 innings.

The Black Knights have lowered their team earned run average to 3.11. Army's 10 shutout victories in 2012 are an Academy record. Senior lefty pitcher Logan Lee fired the fourth no-hitter in program history in Army's 8-0 win over Bucknell on Saturday.

Army has established Patriot League and Academy records with 17 straight regular-season conference victories dating back to last season. The Black Knights have swept a school-record 10 straight doubleheaders dating back to its four-game sweep of Harvard last month.

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continues its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the 15th year with its 2012 weekly surveys. Florida State returned to the top of the survey for the second time this season.

Army will return to action on Wednesday when the Black Knights travel to Fishkill, N.Y., to face Marist in the seventh annual WRWD Hudson Valley Baseball Classic. First pitch from Dutchess Stadium is slated for 6:05 p.m.