The Georgetown baseball team is struggling through a 10-game losing streak after being swept by Big East rival Rutgers in a three-game series last weekend. Despite sophomore Kevin Field’s complete game no-hitter, the Hoyas fell to 7-30 (2-11 Big East) after the series.
In the first game, Field held Rutgers hitless over six innings while striking out five in game one, but two errors on one play in the first inning gave him the loss. Field got Rutgers’ first-year outfielder Jeff Frazier to hit a popup in front of the plate, but sophomore catcher Michael Lombardi misplayed the ball, allowing Frazier to reach base; Lombardi then threw errantly into center field, allowing Rutgers’ sophomore outfielder Nick Cerulo to score the game’s only run.
“[Getting the no-hitter] was in the back of my mind, but I tried to push it out. There was definitely a little pressure, but I wasn’t thinking that we were losing, I was more trying not to let Rutgers get even one more run on the board,” said Field, who was named Big East Pitcher of the Week for his performance. It was the fourth no-hitter in Big East Conference history, and Field’s first.
In the second game, the Hoyas were forced to pitch six relievers behind their starter, senior captain Eric Sutton, who walked three and allowed three unearned runs while striking out one in one and two thirds innings. The Hoyas had nine hits but left 13 runners on base in the 11-3 loss.
In the final game of the series, first-year Eddie Pena pitched seven strong innings, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out three and walking just one. Rutgers starting pitcher senior Tom Wheeler dominated the game, however, pitching eight shut-out innings for the Scarlet Knights and finishing off the Hoyas, 3-0. All three of Rutgers runs were scored with two outs in an inning, the last on a steal of home.
“The second game was just a blow-out; [Rutgers] came out and did everything right,” said senior captain Mike Green, who collected a hit for the Hoyas in game one. “But when we came back to the hotel on Saturday night, we thought we could take the third from them. Eddie did a great job, we just couldn’t put two or three hits together in a row. It was a very frustrating weekend because we really thought we could get a few wins against a good team.”
Frustrations are running high throughout the team, but the Hoyas are focused on staying positive. Senior catcher Phil Pierarazio and fellow captains Green and Sutton have been encouraging the team to keep fighting.
“We just keep saying that if you work hard and go out and play tough that good things will happen. It is frustrating when you’re playing well and still losing by a run here and a run there, but the team’s attitude is really good,” Pierarazio said.
“People are a little upset that we’re not playing up to our potential, but we all try to stay positive,” said Field. “We need to keep our confidence up, because other teams are coming into our series thinking they can beat up on us, and we can use that to our advantage and catch them when they’re not expecting it.”
After 10 consecutive losses, the Hoyas are looking to turn around their losing streak. According to Head Coach Peter Wilk, the team most needs to improve its consistency.
“We’ve had some inconsistent showings,” Wilk said. “We need to swing the bat better and get strong defensive play to back up our pitching,” he said.
Field echoed Wilk’s statement. “[The pitchers] have a lot of talent, but we need to be more consistent, including me,” he said.
Wilk also noted that injuries could be hampering the Hoyas. “We need to get healthy,” he said. “We’re playing banged up right now, and we’re playing some kids out of position.” Most notably, the Hoyas are missing first-year starting shortstop Matt Johnson, who is out with a sprained ankle. Johnson’s absence has changed the complexion of the infield.
“The injuries are a factor, because it throws some guys off their game to be moved around,” said Green. “But that’s the way things have been most of the year. It’s a young team, and its hard to feel out where everyone should go.”
Despite their recent losses, Green feels that the season will not be a total waste.
“We’re upbeat because we feel like we can still get some good Big East wins,” he said. “We still have an opportunity to do something that would be good for the program, which would be to win 11 or 12 games, and that has pretty much been our goal. I’m really excited about the rest of the season; it’s not over for us at all.”
Georgetown will return to action on Friday when they travel to St. John’s to play a double-header versus the Red Storm.
