In a game that stretched just shy of four hours, the Georgetown University baseball team defeated the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Hawks 13-9 on April 7, harnessing a 7-run third inning and an unrelenting parade of free passes to first base to take control before holding off a late push.
The Hoyas (18-15, 1-2 Big East) entered the midweek matchup after a series loss to Xavier University, where they dropped the first 2 games before salvaging the finale with a 10-9 comeback victory. Georgetown brought that late-game offensive momentum against the Hawks, drawing 15 walks and scoring 13 runs on 10 hits. UMES (5-23) responded with 9 runs of its own, capitalizing on a sloppy Georgetown defense that led to late-inning opportunities and kept the game within reach.
First-year right-hander Charlie Hendrix continued to establish himself as Georgetown’s midweek starter. After 4 innings against James Madison University on March 31, Hendrix turned in another extended outing of 5 innings. Hendrix allowed 2 runs while striking out 5 players, continuing a recent stretch of improved outings and providing the Hoyas with early stability before the game became more chaotic in the later innings.
The Hawks struck first, manufacturing a run in the opening frame. Centerfielder Julian Jimenez reached on a leadoff single, and outfielder Darrius Brown followed with another base hit to put two on. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners, designated hitter Jonathan Gonzalez grounded out to bring home the game’s first run, giving UMES a 1-0 lead. A quiet bottom half for the Hoyas and a Hawks run in the top of the second extended their lead to 2-0.
Georgetown’s offense was slower to get going, but found a way to respond in the second. Sophomore outfielder Dylan Larkins reached on a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error. He stole third to put immediate pressure on the defense. Graduate infielder Brett Blair was then walked, and although he was thrown out attempting to steal second, the run came home to cut the deficit in half and get Georgetown on the board.
After a 9-pitch top half from Hendrix, the game devolved in the bottom half of the third.
Senior left fielder Travis Ilitch worked a leadoff walk and quickly stole second, starting off what became a chaotic and unrelenting inning. Sophomore outfielder Christian Hamilton followed with a walk, and graduate second baseman AJ Solomon did the same to load the bases with no outs.
From there, it didn’t stop. A walk. Then another. And another. 6 free passes later, Georgetown had forced in 3 runs and turned the inning into a mockery of the Hawks’ pitching staff.
Senior infielder Jordan Kahn broke it open with a 2-RBI double into the gap, and even after a pitching change, Georgetown continued to pile on. Sophomore catcher Dom Cafferillo grounded out to bring home another run, and Ilitch returned to the plate and delivered an RBI single to cap a 7-run inning.
By the time it ended, Georgetown had turned a 1-run deficit into an 8-2 lead, drawing 6 walks in the inning and forcing UMES into a complete collapse.
The Hoyas added on in the fourth. Solomon singled to start the inning, and Peek followed with a walk to put two on. Senior first baseman Jeremy Sheffield reached on a fielder’s choice to move runners into scoring position, and Larkins delivered with an RBI double to extend the lead. Blair followed with a sacrifice fly, pushing Georgetown ahead 10-2 and giving the Hoyas what appeared to be full control of the game.
The Hoyas’ grip on the game started to slip in the back half.
First-year right-hander Ashton Arroyo took the bump for the Hoyas in the sixth, and the inning quickly unraveled. A leadoff runner reached and advanced on a wild pitch before an RBI single brought home a run. A defensive throwing error allowed 2 more runs to score, and another base hit later in the inning cut into the lead, making it a 10-6 game.
UMES kept the pressure on in the seventh, opening the frame with back-to-back walks issued by junior right-handed pitcher Jack Volo. After a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, the Hawks looked poised to do more damage. Volo sat down 2 consecutive batters on swinging strikeouts, but a dropped third strike allowed a run to score, cutting the lead to 10-7 before first-year outfielder Seymore hauled in a fly ball in left to end the inning.
Georgetown answered immediately in the home half. Seymore worked a walk and stole second before Hamilton struck out swinging. Solomon followed with an RBI single to left center, bringing Seymore home to push the lead back to 11-7 before the inning ended on a double play.
UMES threatened in the final frame but could not convert as graduate right-hander Griffin O’Connor handled the ninth, working around a 1-out single with a pair of strikeouts to secure the 13-9 win.
Head Coach Edwin Thompson said the game had a sloppy feel.
“I think that was midweek baseball at its finest,” Thompson told Georgetown Athletics. “We did not play our best, but UMES had a lot to do with that.”
“All in all, a win that we’re always going to take,” Thompson added.
Georgetown heads to Queens, N.Y., this weekend for a 3-game Big East series against St. John’s University (15-17, 3-0 Big East).
