May 20, 2006

Box Score

Washington, D.C. - Sophomore second baseman Matt Bouchard (E. Greenwich, R.I./Bishop Hendricken) hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning and junior Mark McLaughlin (Walnut Creek, Calif./De La Salle) drove in six runs as Georgetown closed out the 2006 season with an 8-7 win over Pittsburgh at Trees Field Saturday afternoon. The Hoyas trailed 4-0 after two innings and 7-2 after four innings, but scored five runs in the fifth to tie the game before Bouchard's solo home run proved to be the decisive run.

Freshman Darren Sizemore (Hamilton, Ohio/Ross) threw a complete game, giving up all seven runs (four earned) on eight hits with four walks and four strikeouts as he closed out the season with a 7-3 record. It was his second complete game this season.

Bouchard hit his second home run of the season to lead off the top of the eighth, the only hit allowed by Pittsburgh freshman reliever Ryan Dunford, who took the loss.

The Hoyas had trailed early in the game, but scored two runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth to tie the game at 7-all after five innings.

After cutting the Panthers lead in half with two runs in the top of the fourth, Pittsburgh scored three times in the bottom of the inning to take a 7-2 lead. In the fifth, sophomore Matt Maranges (Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit) walked and back-to-back singles from freshman Rob Begin (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) and junior Derek deGrijs (Nashville, Tenn./Goodpasture) loaded the bases with two out. McLaughlin followed with a blast to right field - his second home run of the afternoon - as the Hoyas pulled to within 7-6. Pittsburgh starter Paul Nardozzi followed with a walk to Bouchard and sophomore catcher Brandon Davis (Poway, Calif./The Bishop's School) delivered a game-tying double to left-center.

Trailing 4-0 after three innings, Georgetown's bats got going in the fourth. Nardozzi retired the first nine batters he faced, striking out five Hoya batters, but deGrijs led off the fourth with a single. McLaughlin followed with a shot to right, his first home run of the game, and the lead was down to 4-2.

McLaughlin finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored and six RBI, while deGrijs added two singles and two runs scored.

The Hoyas closed out the 2006 season with a 24-32 overall record and a 10-17 mark in the BIG EAST. Despite not making the BIG EAST Tournament, the Hoyas were in the running for the eighth and final spot heading into the last weekend of conference play. The team's 10 wins in league play were the most since the 1986 squad won 12 games.