Fresh off a high-scoring weekend sweep of Saint Peter’s, the Georgetown University baseball team welcomed the UMBC Retrievers for a game between two programs that have met regularly since 2004.
The Hoyas sought to extend their 24-14 all-time series lead, but Wednesday’s game proved to be a challenge, ending in a 7-12 loss.
UMBC (1-3) capitalized on defensive mistakes and a seven-run eighth inning to defeat Georgetown (5-4) 12-7 Feb. 25 at Capital One Park. The Hoyas committed 4 errors and managed just 6 hits, allowing the Retrievers to control much of the game before a late rally narrowed the final margin.
Georgetown Head Coach Edwin Thompson said the team did not live up to their own standards.
“Tough night on our end — UMBC came out and just played better baseball against us,” Thompson said to Georgetown Athletics after the game. “Tribute to them, how they came out and swung the bats, and we didn’t defend the way we are capable of defending.”
UMBC consistently put runners on base early and forced Georgetown to play from behind. The Hoyas handed the ball to graduate right-hander JT Raab for his first start of the season. Raab, the team’s ace who posted a 3.63 ERA across 14 starts last year, ran into immediate trouble.
A walk and a single put two runners aboard before Raab struck out consecutive hitters and appeared ready to escape the frame. Instead, Raab committed a throwing error on a routine comebacker, allowing both runners to score and giving UMBC a 2-0 lead without a hard-hit ball leaving the infield.
After an uneventful bottom half, first-year right-hander Charlie Hendrix entered in relief for the Hoyas in the second inning and loaded the bases with no outs. After allowing just one unearned run to an error, he escaped the jam off a double play and groundout on back-to-back pitches.
Still, Georgetown continued to struggle to record clean defensive innings as UMBC repeatedly created traffic on the bases. The Hoyas’ offense, meanwhile, could not respond early on, going quietly through the first three frames.
Georgetown finally broke through in the fourth inning, after UMBC tagged on 2 more runs. After a leadoff walk by graduate infielder Connor Peek, first baseman Jeremy Sheffield lined a double down the right-field line to bring home the team’s first run. Still, the Hoyas were unable to build a sustained offense, often falling behind in counts and striking out in key spots. Georgetown loaded the bases on two walks and a hit-by-pitch in the fifth inning, but a strikeout ended the threat.
Graduate right-hander Griffin O’Connor steadied the middle innings for the Hoyas’ pitching staff with two scoreless frames. O’Connor, a transfer from Assumption University, recorded 3 strikeouts and retired at the top of the UMBC order in the sixth, keeping the deficit manageable, giving Georgetown an opportunity to work back into the game.
The Hoyas appeared to seize that opportunity in the seventh inning. A walk and a sacrifice bunt set up junior outfielder Ashtin Gilio, who drove a triple into the right-field corner to cut into the lead. A groundout brought home another run, trimming the deficit to 5-3 and energizing the Georgetown dugout as the game entered the late innings.
The Retrievers continued to create pressure on offense using small-ball tactics, bunts and aggressive baserunning, before the game ultimately unraveled in the eighth.
UMBC loaded the bases following a hit batter and walks before a wild pitch brought home a run for the Retrievers. A double down the line plated two more, and defensive miscues extended the inning as ground balls found holes and routine plays became difficult outs. The Retrievers scored a whopping 7 runs in the inning, stretching the lead to 12-3 and removing the Hoyas’ margin for recovery.
Georgetown attempted a late response in the bottom half of the inning. Graduate second baseman AJ Solomon delivered a bases-clearing double to right-center field and a bunt from Gilio forced a throwing error that plated another run. The rally briefly brought life back into the ballpark, but a double play ended the inning before the Hoyas could draw closer.
UMBC closed the ninth inning to secure the 12-7 victory.
Georgetown struck out 10 times and committed 4 errors in the loss, falling to 5-4 on the season, while UMBC earned its first win of the year. Despite a late push, the Hoyas spent most of the afternoon playing from behind and were unable to overcome early mistakes and missed opportunities.
Georgetown will look to clean up defensively as they prepare for an upcoming home weekend series against Farleigh Dickinson University (1-2) from Feb. 27 through March 1.
