The Georgetown baseball team dropped both ends of a double header to Central Connecticut State in Bethesda, Maryland at Shirley Povich Field on Saturday, March 10. The Hoyas fell short 11-6 in the seven-inning opener despite the efforts of sophomore Robert O’Hare (San Jose, Calif./Mission College) as he led GU with three RBIs on 2-3 batting with a double. The back-end of the double header showcased a pitchers’ duel as the teams battled to a 2-2 tie through seven. Hoyas starter Matt Arizin threw six and a third innings limiting the Blue Devils to four hits and two runs while striking out three. Walks cost Georgetown in the final two innings as Central Connecticut was able to put up six more runs on the board and take game 2 of the double-header 8-2.
The Hoyas fell behind early in the opener but continued to inch their way back. After giving up two runs in the top of the first Georgetown came right back with one of their own. Jason Boice (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) singled to lead off the inning and came around to score when O’Hare singled knocking in the first of his three RBI’s on the day. The score stayed 2-1 until the top of the third when the Blue Devils collected six runs on six hits chasing Hoyas starter senior tri-captain Randy Erwin (Miami, Fla./Southwest Miami) from the game. Georgetown inched closer in the bottom half of the inning cutting the deficit to 8-3 as O’Hare doubled in freshman Carlos Gazitua (Miami, Fla./Monsignor Pace) and then scored on a Blue Devil balk. GU gave up another run in the top of the fourth but took advantage of three walks in the bottom of the inning to slice into the lead. With the bases loaded and one out, Gazitua and O’Hare earned walks bringing Georgetown within four, 9-5. Freshman catcher Michael Lombardi knocked in the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center scoring sophomore John Perko (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay). Despite junior Tony Pina (Middleboro, Mass./Middleboro) striking out four and shutting out Central Connecticut over the final three innings the Hoyas still fell by a final score of 11-6. Pina has not allowed a run this season while striking out seven holding opponents to a .207 batting average in 8.2 innings pitched.
The Hoyas fell short in the second game 8-2 despite a strong performance by starting pitcher Matt Arizin. GU took the lead when senior Marc Carlini (Alexandria, Va./Episcopal) singled, sophomore Tony Lee (Bromall, Pa./Malvern Prep) sacrificed (bunt), and junior Mike Green (McLean, Va./Landon School) singled scoring Carlini. The Hoyas upped their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth when senior Jim Vankoski (Aston, Pa./Strath Haven) singled, stole second, and scored on a Carlini single. Carlinia led the hoyas offense batting 3-4 with an RBI raising his season-batting average to .294. Central Connecticut came back in the top of the fifth tying the score at two and threatening to take a lead in the inning. With runners on first and second, and no one out, the Blue Devils attempted to sacrifice the runners over. The bunt popped up slightly to just in front of the mound. Arizin stretched out to make the grab, threw to Green at second, who tossed it to Jason Boice at first completing the one, four, three triple play ending the threat and the inning. Arizin completed the game pitching six and a third innings allowing two runs while striking out three. He leads Georgetown with 11 strikeouts in 18.2 innings pitched maintaining a 5.79 ERA, second-best for the Hoyas. The scored remained tied at two through seven until the Blue Devils broke through with four in the eighth and two in the ninth taking advantage of five walks and claiming the 8-2 victory.
The losses drop Georgetown to 3-10 on the season and 2-3 at home. The Hoyas face Central Connecticut State University again on Sunday, March 11 at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda, Md. concluding the three-game series at 1:00 p.m.
