April 20, 2008

Washington, D.C. - The Georgetown University baseball team snapped an eight-game BIG EAST losing streak on Sunday afternoon with an 8-5 win over one of the top teams in the conference, Cincinnati. Sophomore first baseman Dan Capeless had three hits, all doubles, scored three runs and drove in another and junior Jimmy Saris pitched six strong innings, allowing only one run on five hits while striking out seven.

Junior rightfielder Kelly Muir went 3-for-3 and scored two runs while classmate Greg Pustizzi went 2-for-3 with three RBI from the designated hitter spot. Sophomore Cary Piligian shutout the UC offense in the seventh and senior Daniel Kennedy closed out the game throwing the final two innings in relief.

With two outs in the second, Muir picked up an infield single on a grounder to short and then stole second. Pustizzi followed with a single to center for a 1-0 Hoya lead off UC starter Tyler Smith. The Hoyas would eventually load the bases before a strikeout kept the Hoyas from adding any more runs.

In the third, Georgetown seemed to seize control as they took a 4-0 lead. Senior Matt Iannetta singled through the left side and then stole second before a RBI double from senior Matt Harrigan into right. With one out, Capeless hit his first double down the rightfield line for another GU run. After a Cincinnati pitching change, a wild pitch advanced Capeless to third. Muir would follow that at-bat with a free pass and Pustizzi lifted a sacrifice fly to center for a four-run lead.

After the Bearcats scored a run, GU pushed back ahead by five runs in the seventh inning. Capeless' second double started the inning and Muir followed with a sacrifice bunt to third that moved the Massachusetts native to third. Pustizzi knocked in his third run of the game with a single to left and advanced to second on a misplay by the UC leftfielder. Junior Rob Begin came in to pinch-run for Pustizzi and came around to score after a balk from Justin Schultheiss and a sacrifice fly from freshman Erick Fernandez.

The Hoya tacked on two more runs in the ninth when Capeless hit his third double of the game with one out and Muir followed with a single through the left side. Junior Sean Baumann stepped in to pinch-hit and doubled into the right-center gap for the final runs of the game for the Blue and Gray.

The Hoyas will now travel to Charlottesville, Va., for a 6 p.m. contest on Tuesday night against the nationally-ranked Virginia Cavaliers.