May 18, 2007

Box Score

Washington, D.C. - The Georgetown University (20-34, 7-19 BIG EAST) baseball team saw their BIG EAST postseason dreams come to close in stunning fashion on Friday afternoon to West Virginia (29-21, 10-15 BE), 4-3, in Morgantown, W. Va. The Hoyas held a 3-1 lead before allowing single runs in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings, the game-winner being scored on a wild pitch.

Junior Michael Gaggioli (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) left after six innings with a one-run lead after allowing two runs on six hits and striking out four. Freshman Jack Bender (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) was saddled with the loss, falling to 2-3 on the season. Bender took the loss despite not allowing any earned runs, walking no one and allowing only two hits in two innings.

Bender struggled in the ninth when he hit the lead-off man, then committed an error to put runners on first and second. A bunt single then loaded the bases before senior Mark Dutmers (Sarasota, Fla./Riverview) was called upon to try and work out of the jam. However, Dutmers uncorked a wild pitch which scored WVU catcher Justin Parks with the game-winning run.

Georgetown would take a quick 1-0 lead in the first as they were able to score before recording an out in the contest. Senior Mark McLaughlin (Walnut Creek, Calif./De La Salle) singled to center, stole second and then scored on a RBI-single down the left field line by senior Derek deGrijs (Nashville, Tenn./Goodpasture)

The Hoyas would tack on another run in the third to take a two-run lead over the Mountaineers. With two outs, deGrijs was drilled by a pitch and awarded first. He then stole second and came home on a run-scoring base hit from junior Matthew Bouchard (East Greenwich, R.I./Bishop Hendricken) to make the score, 2-0.

The Blue and Gray would get a run back that they allowed in the bottom of the third when junior Matt Iannetta (Providence, R.I./St. Raphael Academy) smashed his third home run of the season to put GU back up by two runs, 3-1.

The Hoyas had a chance to score more runs in the sixth when they loaded the bases with two outs, however, a strikeout and a groundball come-backer to the mound ended the threat. West Virginia would close the deficit to a run in the bottom half of the inning.

WVU tied the game in the eighth when designated hitter Trent Ridgley reached base on a Georgetown error and scored on a two-out triple by second baseman Jason Pape.

The Hoyas will close out their season tomorrow against West Virginia at 1 p.m. in Morgantown, W. Va.