April 26, 2008

Box Score

Washington, D.C. - On a day where the Hoya runners were competing in the Penn Relays, the Georgetown University baseball team was on the other side of the state taking part in a marathon of their own on Saturday afternoon, dropping a rain-marred 17-11 contest to the host Panthers at Trees Field.

Trailing 4-1 in the fourth, the Hoyas scored five runs to take their only lead of the game. Sophomore Dan Capeless walked to start the inning, after which a long weather delay ensued. The Panthers made a pitching change upon their return to the field and quickly got two outs in the inning. However, GU did create some tension when sophomore Chip Malt singled to right and stole second to put runners on the corners.

Sophomore Tommy Lee and senior Matthew Maranges would then come through for the Blue and Gray with consecutive RBI singles. After another walk, this one to senior Matt Harrigan that loaded the bases, senior Matt Iannetta lashed a two-run single to right for a Hoya lead. Erick Fernandez would collect another run-scoring base-hit for GU and the inning closed with the Hoyas now in front, 6-4.

The lead was short-lived as Pittsburgh responded with seven runs in the fifth, and three apiece in the sixth and eighth for a 17-6 lead.

In the ninth, the Hoyas put up a fight by earning five more runs and pushing their total on the day into double-digits. With one out, Malt would single to right and after a pitching change, freshman Dan Godefroi and Maranges reached base to load them up. Freshman Billy Henig worked a walk and plated a run before the Panthers went into their bullpen yet again.

Junior Greg Pustizzi knocked in a run with a run-scoring single to center and Fernandez followed with a sacrifice fly to right. The Hoyas went over the 10-run mark when junior Sean Baumann crushed a two-run double into the right-center gap.

After falling behind early, 3-0, the Hoyas received a spark when Lee led-off the third inning with a solo homer to left. The tater was the centerfielder's second of the season.

Senior Michael Gaggioli earned the start and allowed three earned runs in three innings before the first rainfall ended his day prematurely. Sophomore Alex Meyer took the loss while classmates Jack Bender and Billy Concannon also struggled against the Pittsburgh batters.