Following a tough stretch in which their record in the Big East dropped to 2-7 in the month of April, Georgetown’s baseball team bounced back and played a very positive series this past weekend against the conference’s No. 2 team, Boston College. The series was a definite momentum-builder as the Hoyas head down the stretch, with a close contest in game one and a solid victory in game three.
“We finally played better baseball this weekend,” Head Coach Pete Wilk said. “The last few weeks have been shaky in terms of playing strong, smart baseball, but this weekend was a big weekend at Boston College.”
The Hoyas dropped the first game 6-3 in heartbreaking fashion. The Eagles struck first, scoring two runs in the first. After sophomore Ryan Hutchinson reached base on a fielder’s choice, Jared McGuire hit his fourth homerun of the year to deep left-center field, putting his team up 2-0.
Georgetown was able to get one back in the second, as senior Andrew Cleary singled to lead off the inning. With one out, junior Drew Dargen smacked a double down the left field line, advancing Cleary to third. Cleary eventually scored on a balk by Boston College starter Mike Wlodarczyk, making the score 2-1.
The Eagles extended their lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth on a homerun by outfielder Jason Delaney, but the Hoyas answered right back, tying the score at 3-3 in the fifth. Matt Johnson doubled to right field to lead off the inning. Following a groundout by sophomore Brandon Davis, first-year Matt Bouchard singled through the right side, advancing Johnson to third. Parker Brooks then doubled, sending Johnson home and moving Bouchard up to third. With two out, captain Billy Quinn hit a ball to third base, but McGuire couldn’t field it cleanly, scoring Bouchard to tie the game.
The rest of the contest was a stalemate, as Wlodarczyk and Mike Gaggioli competed in a classic pitchers’ duel and the game went into extra innings. Gaggioli had another solid outing, going seven and two-thirds strong innings and giving up eight hits and five earned runs. Wlodarczyk was just a little better, going eight innings and giving up eight hits and three runs.
In the bottom of the eighth Boston College put together a two out rally to hand the Hoyas one of their toughest losses of the season. Hutchinson singled through the hole on the left side and moved to second on a single by McGuire. Both men crossed the plate on a deep shot to right-center field by Delaney, who garnered Big East Player of the Week honors for his efforts. The shot was Delaney’s second of the game and eighth of the season, and handed Gaggioli his fourth loss of the year.
“We thought we won this one in the top of the sixth, but a call went against us, the run didn’t count and we were forced to play extras,” Wilk said. “It’s another disappointing loss for Gaggioli, who pitched well, yet again.”
Game two didn’t turn out much better for the Hoyas, as their bats were silenced by lefthander Joe Martinez, who went a full nine innings, giving up only four runs while striking out 11. The Eagles got off to a quick start, leading 3-1 after four innings, and erupting for five runs on four hits in the seventh, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Delaney.
“I was surprised Delaney got player of the week,” Wilk said. “He hit the walkoff, but it felt like he didn’t do much else of consequence.”
In the final game of the series, the Hoyas’ solid play finally paid off in the form of a 7-2 win. Georgetown scored three runs in the top of the first and never relinquished the lead. With one out, Timmy Jones singled to center then immediately stole second, putting himself in scoring position. With two out, Cleary shot the ball back through the middle, advancing to second as the throw went home to try and get Jones, but it was too late and Jones was safe at the plate. Ryan Craft followed with a single to left and both he and Cleary scored on a double in the left-center field gap by Dargen. The Hoyas added a run in both the fifth and the sixth inning. The Eagles got on the board in the seventh and added another run in the eighth, but it was too little too late.
Georgetown starter Tom Braun, forced out of the bullpen into the starting rotation due to injuries, dazzled in his first start since securing the Hoyas’ career saves record. Braun tossed eight innings of five-hit ball, allowing only two runs and striking out six to secure his third win on the year.
“Braun was special,” Wilk said. “He dominated a tough lineup and competed his butt off. It’s great to see good things happen to a kid who’s worked hard all four years he’s been here.”
This series may very well serve as an indication of the improved baseball we can expect to see from the Hoyas the rest of the way.
“If this past weekend is any gauge to follow the rest of the season should be exciting,” Wilk said.
The Hoyas will try to keep the momentum going next weekend with a three game set on the road against Connecticut. Game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
