March 19, 2017 Final Stats
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Georgetown University baseball team overcame a two-run deficit to capture the series finale over Gardner-Webb University, 4-2, on Sunday afternoon at John H. Moss Stadium. With the win, the Hoyas improve to 12-8 overall, while the Runnin' Bulldogs fell to 9-12.
Kevin Superko (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley/Phillips Andover) was strong on the mound for the Hoyas, scattering seven hits and two runs, while striking out two and walking none. Alex Deise (St. Petersburg, Fla./St. John's College HS [D.C.]/FSU) and Nick Morreale (Lake Elmo, Minn./St. Thomas Academy/IMG Academy) combined for a scoreless inning of relief and Jimmy Swad (Washington, D.C./St. Albans) fired a scoreless inning for his sixth save.
Jake Bernstein (Frederick, Md./St. John's College HS) and Zach Racusin (Morristown, N.J./Salisbury School/Marist) each had three hits and an RBI to lead the offense, while Racusin also added two stolen bases. Beau Hall (Seaville, N.J/Ocean City) had two hits and two RBI.
Gardner-Webb opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, taking a 1-0 lead on two singles sandwiched around a hit batter. The Runnin' Bulldogs extended their lead to 2-0 in the third inning with a double and single, but Superko got out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam with a strikeout and double play.
After stranding five runners over the first three innings, including four in scoring position, the Hoyas got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. John Simourian (Andover, Mass./Phillips Andover) led off with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Alex Bernauer (Sunnyvale, Calif./Fremont). Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Eric Garza (San Antonio, Texas/Ronald Reagan/TCU/San Jacinto) and Simourian scored on a sacrifice fly by Hall.
Georgetown tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Bernstein and Michael DeRenzi (Mendham, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) led off with back-to-back singles. Bernstein then advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt and scored when Racusin reached on a fielder's choice to tie the game, 2-2.
The Blue & Gray put together a two-out rally to take a lead in the top of the sixth. After two quick outs, Hall laid down a bunt single and promptly stole second. Bernstein fouled off a couple of tough, two-strike pitches before lining his third single of the game into left field to score Hall and give GU a 3-2 lead.
Georgetown tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning. Simourian led off with a single and, with one out, stole second. Austin Shirley (Strafford, Pa./Conestoga) entered as a pinch runner and moved to third on a ground out by Ryan Davis (Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley). Hall lined a two-out, two-strike single into left field to push Shirley across the plate and give the Hoyas a 4-2 lead.
Superko, meanwhile, was on cruise control, allowing just two singles and facing one over the minimum in his final four innings. Deise and Morreale combined for a scoreless eighth and Swad stranded two runners in the ninth to seal the victory.
The Hoyas will play their first home game of the season, after 20 games on the road to start the season, on Wednesday, March 22, hosting Coppin State at Shirley Povich Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Live stats and a video stream will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.
