BOCA RATON, FL — Army West Point women’s softball didn’t just pick up its first win of the 2026 season Saturday morning; they earned it.
After getting tagged for a two-run homer in the top of the first, the Black Knights responded with poise, pressure, and just enough timely execution to edge Delaware 3–2 at FAU Softball Stadium. The win moves Army to 1–2 and sets up a quick turnaround later today against Ohio State.
It wasn’t flashy. It was the kind of early-season win that tells you a team can take a punch, settle in, and find a way.
Game information
- Match-up: Delaware (1–1) vs. Army West Point (1–2)
- Venue: FAU Softball Stadium, Boca Raton, Fla. (Neutral Site)
- Date: 2/7/2026
- Start time: 9:00 AM
- Duration: 2:01
- Attendance: 0
- Weather: 59, Sunny
- Umpires: HP: Brandon Jacobson; 1B: Charles Blackwell; 3B: Bobby Martinez
Delaware struck first — Army didn’t blink
Delaware landed the first blow when M. Diamond turned on a pitch and sent it out for a two-run homer in the opening inning.
Down 2–0 before the game had a chance to breathe, Army’s response was exactly what you want to see in February: no panic, no chasing, no trying to hit a three-run homer with nobody on.
The Black Knights started stringing together baserunners, forcing Delaware to make plays — and eventually, to make mistakes.
Black Knights News:
- Army Men’s Ice Hockey Rolls Past RIT 6–2 at Tate Rink, Powers Up 3-for-4
- #21 Army Women’s Lacrosse Opens 2026 With Statement Road Win at Rutgers
- Army Women’s Tennis Stays Perfect at Home, Sweeps FDU 4-0 to Move to 7-2
- Army Softball Falls to Indiana in Game 2 at FAU Paradise Classic
- Army Softball Drops Season Opener to Wisconsin at FAU Paradise Classic
- Army Baseball Alum Derek Berg Earns Pirates MLB Spring Training Invite as Non-Roster Catcher
How the Black Knights built the comeback
Army chipped away in three different innings, each run coming with a different look — a sign of a lineup learning how to manufacture offense.
Bottom 2: Pressure creates the crack
Army got on the board when E. Murchison reached on an error, allowing C. Newburn to score. It goes down as unearned, but it counts the same — and it changed the feel of the game.
Bottom 3: Brown delivers the equalizer
With S. Tepley on base, T. Brown shot a single to center to tie it at 2–2 — the type of “take what they give you” swing that wins tight games.
Bottom 5: One run, executed
Army pushed across the go-ahead run on a C. Newburn sacrifice fly, scoring Tepley again. No extra-base hit required — just a productive out in a moment that demanded it.
Scoring recap
- Top 1 (Delaware): M. Diamond two-run HR (2–0)
- Bottom 2 (Army): Run scored on an error (2–1)
- Bottom 3 (Army): T. Brown RBI single to center (2–2)
- Bottom 5 (Army): C. Newburn sacrifice fly (3–2)
Pitching set the tone
After the first-inning homer, Army’s staff locked in and didn’t give Delaware another run.
Izzo slammed the door
The story after the first inning was Army’s pitching settling the game down — and B. Izzo taking control.
Izzo threw four scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit, striking out five, and working around two walks on 70 pitches. Delaware didn’t score after the first, and that’s not an accident — it’s a pitcher refusing to let the game speed up.
Delaware had traffic — the Blue Hens left eight runners on base — but Izzo and Army’s defense kept every inning from turning into the one big inning.
Black Rifle Coffee
Black Rifle Coffee is built for early mornings, late nights, and every grind in between — bold, smooth, and ready when you need to lock in.
Whether you’re headed to work, gearing up for game day, or powering through deadline mode, this is the cup that sets the tone.
What the scorecard said
Delaware’s leadoff hitter K. Scheivert reached base twice and swiped two stolen bases, trying to manufacture momentum. Diamond did the damage (2-for-3 with the homer and 2 RBI), but the Blue Hens managed just one hit after the first inning.
For Army, the offense wasn’t about volume — it was about moments.
- T. Brown: 2-for-3, RBI
- C. Newburn: 1-for-2, RBI (sac fly)
- S. Tepley: reached and scored twice, setting the table for the comeback
Why this win matters
Early-season games are messy. Timing is still coming. Pitch counts matter. Lineups are still being tested.
But this one matters because Army showed it can win without everything going perfectly:
- It gave up an early homer and didn’t unravel.
- It scored without needing a big inning.
- It got a shutdown relief performance to protect a one-run lead.
That’s a real foundation — and Army gets a chance to build on it later today.
Final
Army West Point 3, Delaware 2Army: 3 runs, 5 hits, 0 errorsDelaware: 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error
Bad Dawg SportsYour Source for Global Sports News
Get more insider coverage, quick-hit updates, and subscriber-only notes with the Bad Dawg Sports Newsletter — just $2/year.
Discover more from Bad Dawg Sports - Global Sports Coverage & Analysis
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
