March 2, 2008

Box Score

Washington, D.C. - The Georgetown University baseball team earned an 11-7 win over Saint Joseph's (Pa.) on Sunday evening, taking the second game of a three-game series with the Hawks. Sophomore Dan Capeless (Centerville, Mass./Boston College H.S) went 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI while freshman Sean Lamont (Houston, Texas/Bellaire) scored four runs as the Hoyas fought off two comeback bids in the sixth and eighth innings.

The deciding runs came in the Georgetown seventh with the game tied, 5-5. The inning started with Lamont recording an infield single on a grounder to third and Capeless lacing a double down the left-field line to put both players in scoring position. After a groundout and intentional walk, Dan Godefroi (Andover, Mass./Andover) was called upon to pinch-hit and the freshman delivered in his first collegiate at-bat. A come-backer to the mound was good for a fielder's choice RBI that pushed the Hoyas in front, 6-5. Junior Rob Begin (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) walked on four straight pitches to add another run, and Tommy Lee's (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) fielder's choice, which SJU could not turn into a double play, made the score 8-5 heading to the eighth.

Senior Daniel Kennedy (West Orange, N.J./Regis) earned his first save of 2008 after getting out of a jam in the eighth when the Hawks had clawed to within a run at 8-7. SJU had the tying run on third and only one out, but Kennedy induced consecutive infield pop-ups to maintain the Hoyas slim lead.

Georgetown opened the scoring in the third as Lamont knocked a two-run double down the left-field line. Sophomore Tom Elliott (Blue Bell, Pa. St. Joseph's Prep) and Lee scored on the play after delivering consecutive singles to open the frame. Capeless then crushed a two-run homer to right, his first of the season

After the Hawks had sliced the lead in half to 4-2, the Hoyas would tack on another run in the fifth. Lamont walked, Capeless singled and after a pitching change and an out, junior Sean Baumann (Tampa, Fla./Freedom) recorded a RBI on a fielder's choice to third.

Senior Erick Chandler (Somerset, N.J./Rutgers Prep) struck out five batters in his second start of the season and was relieved with two on and two out in the fifth, seemingly in line for a possible win. However, sophomore Jack Bender's (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) second pitch was taken deep by SJU's Mike Boyland and the lead was gone with the score now tied, 5-5. Bender would eventually earn the win, his first of the season.

In the ninth, Junior Kelly Muir (South Pasadena, Calif./Loyola) and Lamont would reach base safely before sloppy play from SJU would pay dividends. A steal attempt resulted in an errant throw by the Hawks catcher, and Muir came around to score, increasing the GU lead. Capeless then hit a ball to left field that was dropped, allowing Lamont to cross the dish with the second run of the inning. Capeless would score on the next play, a RBI double by Erick Fernandez (Hialeah, Fla./Hialeah) down the left-field line, with the final run of the game.

The Hoyas will play Saint Joseph's (Pa.) for a third time on Tuesday, , March 4 at 3:30 p.m. from Alfond Stadium at Harper-Shepherd Field. That game will be followed by the Hoyas playing host Rollins College at approximately 7 p.m. Both games will count towards the overall Baseball Week standings.