WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — Trey Ates delivered a masterful complete-game performance and Josiah Overbeek provided the decisive blow with a two-run homer as the Army Black Knights defeated the Bucknell Bison 5-1 in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader on April 18, 2026.

Ates, the Army right-hander, dominated from start to finish, scattering five hits and striking out eight while walking none. He allowed just one earned run, throwing 108 pitches in a efficient outing that provided crucial stability for the Black Knights’ bullpen with another game to follow. This performance marked a dramatic turnaround for Ates, who had surrendered five earned runs in each of his last two starts against Lehigh and Holy Cross.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the bottom of the fifth inning, breaking open what had been a tight contest. Bucknell starter Brady Hoar, who had relieved Bryce Mitchell after 2 2/3 scoreless innings, navigated early trouble but encountered disaster in the fifth. Army’s Zac Farrell reached first on a fielding error by the Bison third baseman, and was sacrificed to second. That brought Overbeek, the designated hitter, to the plate. On a 1-1 offering from Hoar, Overbeek launched a towering home run to right field, plating two runs. The second run was unearned due to the earlier error, but the hit itself was a decisive, two-run blast that extended Army’s lead to 4-1 and seized full momentum.

Army had earlier erased a 1-0 deficit in the third inning without the benefit of a hit. David Dubrule was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a passed ball, and later scored on an RBI single by Thomas Schreck. Another run crossed on a wild pitch during the same at-bat, giving the Black Knights a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.

Bucknell’s lone run came in the top of the fifth. Zac Selfon singled and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Catcher Deacon Bowne then delivered an RBI double down the left field line, tying the game briefly at 1-1. Bowne finished 2-for-3, accounting for two of Bucknell’s five hits against Ates. The Bison threatened again in the seventh, putting a runner in scoring position after a hit-by-pitch and a passed ball, but Ates struck out Bowne and induced a groundout to end the inning.

Army added an insurance run in the sixth off Bucknell reliever Bryce Mitchell. Carter Hewitt singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single by catcher Jack Quinlan, who went 2-for-3 on the day.

With the victory, Army improved its season record to 22-15 overall, while Bucknell fell to 20-18. The Black Knights have now taken the first two games of the weekend series after a 14-3 win on Friday. The teams were set to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday afternoon at Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field.