March 28, 2009
Box Score
Washington, D.C. - The Georgetown University baseball team used a solid pitching outing from starter Jimmy Saris, a big defensive play from catcher Greg Pustizzi and five home runs to defeat the St. John's Red Storm on Saturday afternoon, 10-5.
Saris allowed three runs on seven hits over seven innings pitched to earn the win. The senior right-hander no-hit the Red Storm through three innings and kept them scoreless through five. Cary Piligian got an inning-ending double play during his relief stint to keep the Hoyas in control and Jack Bender closed the game for the Blue & Gray.
Sean Baumann started things off with a solo home run in the second inning for a 1-0 Hoya lead. On the day, Baumann finished 3-for-3, raising his batting average to an even .440, while scoring three runs and driving in two.
Georgetown opened things up in the fifth inning when Baumann singled through the right side and Dan Godefroi moved him up with a sacrifice bunt to third base. A dropped pop-up by the St. John's shortstop allowed Greg Pustizzi to reach base during the next at-bat and Rand Ravnaas singled to left to load the bases.
Andy Lentz delivered a two-run single into right-center for a 3-0 Hoya lead and a throwing error by St. John's catcher on an attempted steal brought Ravnaas home on the next play. Tom Elliott cleared the bases with a two-run blast, his fourth homer of the season.
The biggest play of the game came during the seventh inning. With one out and runners on first and second, St. John's started to seize the momentum against Saris. A base-hit to right by STJ's Gino Matias' looked like trouble as Kelly Muir gathered the baseball.
However, the senior right fielder came home with the throw and Pustizzi did an excellent job of blocking the plate with his shin guard while applying the tag on Carlos Del Rosario. The play not only preserved the lead but also swung momentum back in favor of the Hoyas. Saris took it from there, inducing a fly-out from leadoff hitter Brian Kemp to end the inning.
The Hoya offense added to the lead in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, Elliott hit a center that caromed off the glove of Kemp. The centerfielder crashed into the wall and Elliott arrived at third base with a triple. Erick Fernandez belted a two-run homer to left that extended the lead to 8-2.
Up 8-4 now in the eighth, Baumann connected on his second home run of the game and was followed by pinch-hitter Dan Capeless, who also belted a solo shot. The five Georgetown home runs on the day set a season-high.
The Hoyas will take this win into tomorrow's rubber match at Citi Field against St John's. The two teams will play in the first game at the new home of the New York Mets tomorrow afternoon with first pitch slated for 1:10 p.m.
