Army eliminated by UCLA

Army’s pitching staff picked a bad time to struggle with control.

The Black Knights walked 10 UCLA hitters and hit four others in a 13-6 elimination loss in the Lubbock regional.

Army starter Ray Bartoli (3-2) allowed six runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings and issued four free passes. Black Knights pitchers walked the leadoff hitter five times, four of those runners came around to score.

No. 21 UCLA (36-19) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and added three runs in the fifth and seventh innings.

Patriot League rookie of the year Sam Ruta led Army’s offense, going 3-for-3 with a two-run home run, RBI single and a sacrifice fly. Tim Simoes delivered a two-run single in the fifth inning and added a single for Army (28-25).

Senior right fielder Jeremiah Adams had three of Army’s 13 hits. Adams topped Army with five hits in the regional.

Army’s record in the NCAA tournament dropped to 4-18.