Coming off of a series win against George Mason University, the Georgetown University baseball team continued their good fortune as the team swept the Penn State Nittany Lions in a two-game midweek series at Capital One Park on March 10 and 11.
The Hoyas (12-6) entered the series with a strong 10-6 record while the Nittany Lions (4-11) found themselves still searching for their first series win of the season. Georgetown capitalized on the opportunity, combining timely offense and steady bullpen performances to sweep the series.
Georgetown Head Coach Edwin Thompson said he was proud of the team’s performance.
“I’m truly proud of our organization,” Thompson told Georgetown Athletics. “Those are two really good wins in the past two days to sweep a Big Ten school. I’m proud of how our group battled. I thought our bullpen was just outstanding.”
Georgetown opened the series with an 8-2 victory, using a four-run third inning and consistent pitching to take control of the game early.
Penn State struck first in the top of the third. After shortstop Preston Yaucher tripled to center field, the Nittany Lions took a 1-0 lead when center fielder Cohl Mercado capitalized on a Georgetown fielding error, allowing Yaucher to score.
The Hoyas answered immediately in the bottom half. Graduate second baseman AJ Solomon drew a walk before junior designated hitter Ashtin Gilio launched a two-run home run to center field to give Georgetown a 2-1 lead.
Sophomore outfielder Christian Hamilton soon extended the Hoyas’ lead to 4-1 with a two-run single into the outfield. Georgetown continued to apply pressure in the fourth inning after sophomore outfielder Dylan Larkins walked and then scored on a wild pitch, with a throwing error extending the lead further to 6-1.
Penn State cut into the deficit in the sixth inning when third baseman Bryce Molinaro hit a solo home run to left-center field, trimming the score to 6-2. But Georgetown’s pitching staff quickly regained control and prevented further damage.
The Hoyas then added insurance to an already significant lead in the seventh inning. Hamilton and senior first baseman Jeremy Sheffield opened the inning with walks, and junior catcher Braxton Templin was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Larkins lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Sheffield home, and another walk by Gilio extended the margin to 8-2.
First-year right-handed pitcher Charlie Hendrix earned the win, allowing one run over three innings while striking out three. The Hoyas’ bullpen handled the rest of the game, combining to hold Penn State to just two runs on five hits.
In the second game of the series, Georgetown completed the sweep with a 5-4 victory, relying on late power hitting and strong bullpen work to hold off Penn State.
The Hoyas struck first in the opening inning. Gilio opened the frame with a triple down the right-field line before Peek hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Gilio to score and giving Georgetown an early 1-0 lead.
Penn State responded in the second inning when Molinaro connected on a solo home run to right-center field to tie the game. The Nittany Lions surged ahead in the third inning as infielder Michael Anderson launched a solo home run to center field, before infielder Spencer Barnett followed with another solo shot to right-center to give Penn State a 3-1 advantage.
Georgetown then answered in the bottom of the third. Senior outfielder Travis Ilitch singled through the right side before Peek was hit by a pitch to put two runners aboard before a fielder’s choice and throwing error cut the lead to 3-2. But Penn State added another run in the fourth as Yaucher delivered an RBI single to left-center field.
The Hoyas quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning. Graduate catcher Connor Price drew a leadoff walk before Larkins advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt. With one out, graduate infielder Dante Pozzi stepped to the plate and launched a two-run home run to left field, tying the game at 4-4.
From then on, Georgetown’s bullpen took complete control of the game. After starting graduate right-hander JT Raab allowed three runs over the first three innings, the Hoyas turned to first-year right-hander Ashton Arroyo and senior left-hander Andrew Jergins.
Graduate right-hander Griffin O’Connor delivered one of the most important outings of the afternoon, pitching three scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out two batters. His performance kept Penn State from extending its lead and set the stage for Georgetown’s late breakthrough.
That late breakthrough came in the eighth inning. With two outs and the game still tied, Pozzi returned to the plate and delivered again, launching a solo home run to left-center field to give Georgetown a 5-4 lead.
Penn State threatened throughout the middle innings and finished with nine hits, but the Hoyas’ bullpen prevented the Nittany Lions from converting those opportunities into runs. Sophomore pitcher Ethan Rucker secured the save in the bottom half with two strikeouts.
Georgetown will next host William & Mary (5-10) for a three-game weekend series as the Tribe enter on a six-game losing streak while the Hoyas look to keep their momentum going as they draw closer to Big East play.
