3/23/2002
Bethesda, MD ? Following a ceremony honoring Washington area firefighters and police, in which Georgetown President Jack DeGioia joined four firefighters to throw out the first pitches, the Hoyas and Mountaineers split a double-header with GU winning the late game 6-3. West Virginia, despite a complete-game performance by Hoyas starting freshman pitcher Eddie Pena , won the first of the two games 4-0.
GAME 1
Mountaineers? right-hander Billy Biggs (3-3) controlled the tempo in game one limiting the Hoyas to three hits, striking out five, and not walking anyone en route to a 4-0 victory and a complete game, his third of the season. West Virginia took the early lead scoring two in the second on a Dallas Crews homerun over the right-center field wall. The Mountaineers added their other two runs with scores in the fourth and fifth taking the 4-0 lead and eventual win.
Regardless of the loss, Pena (0-3) improved his ERA by nearly a run and walked just one while striking out three. Centerfielder Carlos Gazitua picked up one hit for Georgetown and third baseman Ron Cano collected the other two hits to include a double. The loss extended the Hoyas losing streak to five while the Mountaineers picked up their second straight. The game took only one hour and thirty-five minutes to complete.
GAME 2
A five-run fifth for the Hoyas in game two ended up being enough as Georgetown went on to win the game 6-3. Starting lefty Eric Sutton nearly pitched a complete game coming up one out short while striking out five, walking one, and allowing three runs on eight hits. Junior Patrick Salvitti replaced Sutton with the bases-loaded and two outs in the ninth and got the first batter he faced to ground into a fielders choice earning his first save of the season.
The Mountaineers got on the board first with a two-out RBI single by Eric Grimm in the top of the third. West Virginia increased their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth on a RBI single by Mike Frownfelter but the Hoyas took advantage of three hits and an error in the latter half of the inning taking a 5-2 lead.
Leftfielder Jon Blodgett led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a stolen base, one of two on the day for him. An out later Mike Green singled advancing Blodgett to third. Freshman James Supple then laid down a bunt in which Blodgett came charging home. The Mountaineers went for the play at the plate but were failed to get the out as Blodgett slid across giving the Hoyas their first run of the game. Cano followed with a single to right field scoring Green on a misplay by West Virginia?s catcher. Gazitua then drove a ball to the wall in right-center field for a triple driving in his team-leading 24th and 25th RBI?s of the season. Catcher Michael Lombardi capped off the inning with a textbook groundout to the right side allowing Gazitua to score and increase Georgetown?s lead to 5-2.
The Hoyas almost added two more runs in the sixth but had to settle for one when a controversial play at the plate went the Mountaineers way. Freshman right fielder Bill Quinn led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Blodgett. Shortstop Matt Johnson followed with a single placing runners on the corners for Mike Green. Green hit a dribbler back to the pitcher who elected to go home with it. It appeared as though Quinn beat the tag but the umpire saw differently signaling the second out of the inning. Supple ensure the Hoyas would get one run though driving a pitch for a single scoring Johnson.
Sutton was well in control of the game on the mound for the Hoyas until some trouble in the ninth. West Virginia was able to get a run off of him and load the bases before Head Coach Pete Wilk pulled him in favor of Salvitti who was able to get the last out on the first batter he faced. Georgetown?s victory ended their five-game slide and improved them to 7-20 overall, 2-3 in the BIG EAST. West Virginia now stands at 9-8 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
The two teams battle again tomorrow to complete the three-game series. Start time is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. EST at Shirley Povich Field, in Bethesda, MD.
