4/20/2002

The Hoyas offense, much like the weather on the day, had occasional moments of sunshine but more often than not the overcast clouds prevailed. Game one starter Kevin Field, following a four-run first inning, limited the Hokies to two runs on six hits over the next five innings getting a no-decision in the 7-6 extra inning game. Georgetown remained within striking distance throughout the second game until a four-run ninth by Virginia Tech and the Hoyas second defeat of the day, a 10-5 decision.

GU collected six runs on 10 hits in the opener including a 3-for-4 game by first baseman Matt Carullo who picked up two RBIs and a run scored. Centerfielder Carlos Gazitua also had a multi-hit game for the Hoyas batting 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored.

Virginia Tech took an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first taking advantage of four hits, including a Chris Hutchison three-run homerun. The Hokies added another run in the second scoring on a wild pitch but the Hoyas matched the run in the latter half of the inning on Gazitua?s homerun left-center field.

Georgetown notched another run in the third on another leadoff homerun, this time by rightfielder Robert O?Hare ? his fourth homer of the season. The two teams traded runs again in the fourth with Carullo crossing the plate for GU off of a single by Gazitua and an error on the rightfielder. The Hoyas continued to inch closer adding one more run in the fifth while trimming the deficit to 6-4. Designated hitter Brett McLeod led off with a double and scored on shortstop Matt Johnson?s RBI ground out.

Trailing by two in the bottom of the seventh of a scheduled seven-inning game, the resilient Hoyas fought back to tie the game. Tony Lee, pinch-hitting, reached first base on an error by the shortstop to start the one-out rally. Catcher Jim Supple followed with single to right and advanced to second on an error by the rightfielder ? Lee to third. Carullo provided a clutch hit driving in both Lee and Supple to tie the game at six apiece. Gazitua followed with a rocket down the first base line that bounced off of the first baseman?s leg, to the second baseman who scooped it up and threw back to first for the questionable out call. A strikeout one batter later ended the inning and the Hoyas opportunity to win that inning.

A scoreless eighth ensued and was followed by a run in the top of the ninth by Virginia Tech ultimately securing the 7-6 win for the Hokies. Tyler Abbott (0-3), who tossed 2.1 innings allowing just one run on three hits for the Hoyas, suffered the loss. Field finished the game hurling six innings, giving up six runs, walking one, and striking out five.

The second game was more of the same as the Hoyas fell behind early and came up short on their rally. Third baseman Bill Quinn batted 3-for-4 with a RBI and leftfielder Ron Cano went 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. Tony Lee, who started at second base, batted 1-for-4 including a two-run homerun, his first this season.

Virginia Tech grabbed three runs in the third on four hits and notched another run in both the fourth and sixth innings to take a 5-0 lead into the seventh. Robert O?Hare put the Hoyas on the board though in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff homerun, his second of the day. The teams traded runs in the eighth - a Chris Stanton homerun for the Hokies and a RBI double by Quinn driving in Cano.

Both teams then had offensive outbursts in the ninth. Virginia Tech scored four runs on four hits and an error including catcher Wyatt Toregas? three-run homerun giving the Hokies a 10-2 lead. Georgetown continued to battle notching three runs of their own in the inning on a Ron Cano sacrifice fly that scored Jim Supple and Lee?s two-run homerun. Hokies relief pitcher Jeff Landing came in though and retired the final two batters and securing Virginia Tech?s 10-5 win.

Starting pitcher Eric Sutton (4-7) suffered the loss for the Hoyas while Chip Runyon earned the victory for the Hokies. The losses drop Georgetown University to 8-37 this season and 2-17 in conference play. Virginia Tech improved to 20-17 overall and 10-6 in the BIG EAST. The two teams are set to complete this three-game series tomorrow afternoon beginning at 12:00 p.m. EST.