WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 20, 2000) -- Georgetown fell to BIG EAST foe West Virginia 7-3 and 7-4 on April 20 in doubleheader baseball action on the GU Baseball Diamond.
In game one, the Mountaineers (19-20, 6-7 BIG EAST) scored first with six runs in the second inning. Shortstop Nate Reeser singled in WVU's first score. With bases loaded, center fielder Mike Frownfelter singled in two runs for a 3-0 lead. After second baseman Josh Cisneros hit a sacrifice fly to center field for another run, first baseman Kevin Olkowski homered for the 6-0 margin. Georgetown (12-32, 1-6 BIG EAST) tacked on a run when left fielder Marc Carlini (Jr., Alexandria, Va./Episcopal) grounded out to the shortstop to bring home third baseman Eric Santana (Jr., Santurce, P.R./Edgewood).
GU posted another run in the fourth behind Cassese's RBI single to center field which scored pitcher Jim Vankoski (Aston, Pa./Strath Haven). WVU made it 7-2 with a run in the sixth, but Cassese hit another RBI to center to score Santana for the 7-3 final. Vankoski hurled seven innings allowing seven runs off 12 hits and the Mountaineers' Shane Rhodes also went seven allowing three runs off six hits while striking out seven. Cassese was 3-for-3 with two RBI for the Hoyas. Frownfelter was 2-4 with three RBI to lead WVU and Olkowski registered a 3-4 day with two RBI.
Game two started off with a bang as senior left fielder Josh Corman (Lexington, Ky./Lafayette) clocked his second home run of the season in the first inning to give GU an early 1-0 lead. The Mountaineers would tie the game in fourth and take the lead in the sixth after third baseman Tim McCabe doubled in a run. WVU never relinquished the lead scoring two more runs in the seventh and eighth frames to earn a 6-1 advantage.
The Hoyas made it interesting with three runs in the bottom of eighth. Center fielder Jim Vankoski nabbed a RBI by scoring third baseman Tony Lee (Fr., Bromall, Pa./Malvern Prep). Designated hitter Jason Boice (Fr., Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) singled to load the bases. First baseman Eric Santana followed with a single to right that brought home Vankoski and Corman to trim the WVU margin to 6-4. GU's rally ended with a ground out to the shortstop stranding runners on second and third. The Mountaineers picked up and insurance run in the ninth and the 7-4 win.
Santana was 2-4 with two RBI to lead GU. Corman stroked a 2-for-5 day with a RBI and two runs scored, while Vankoski tallied a 3-5 game. McCabe went 2-3 and three RBI for WVU. Jim Kirkland earned the win for the Mountaineers going 7-1/3 innings with four runs off seven hits. Pitcher Eric Sutton (So., Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) notched his first loss of the season after throwing six innings allowing three hits and one earned run. Four GU pitchers combined for nine WVU walks compared to 0 walks for the four opposing pitchers.
The Hoyas play again on Saturday, April 22, against 26th-ranked Notre Dame. The home doubleheader contest is scheduled for 12 noon at the GU Baseball Diamond.
