Pirates split double-header, clinch Big East berth

Georgetown started off on the right foot against Seton Hall (24-23, 9-9), scoring three runs in the first inning off freshman Pirate starter Matt Leon to go up 3-0. Still trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning, the Pirates were positioned to threaten the Hoyas' lead. Freshman Ryan Ramiz hit a leadoff single for the Blue and White, followed immediately by junior Chris Chiaradio drawing a walk. With runners on first and second base and no outs, junior Derek Jenkins stepped to the plate and reached base safely on an infield single. Now having bases loaded with no outs, junior Zack Weigel popped up and sophomore Joe Poduslenko struck out in back-to-back at bats. Sophomore Mike Caputo hit a ground ball to Georgetown's third baseman, which resulted in a throwing error that allowed the Pirates to cross their first run of the game. Senior Sal Annunziata then stepped to the plate and grounded out to end the inning. Georgetown added lone runs in the top of the seventh and ninth innings to lead the Pirates 5-1 entering the bottom half of the last inning. Seton Hall looked for a last-inning rally as Annunziata led off with a triple to right center field. With one out and Annunziata on third, senior Alex Falconi flew out to right field, allowing Annunziata to tag up and cross home plate. After making the score 5-2, the Pirates ended the game quietly, scoring no more runs. Leon took the loss after giving up three runs in four innings, bringing his record to 0-4. Georgetown starter Kevin Superko improved to 3-2 on the season after picking up the win. Game 1 of the doubleheader saw the Pirates stage a last inning comeback, scoring four runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to take the game 6-5 against Georgetown. Seton Hall needed to secure a victory to help keep their Big East Tournament dreams alive. Chiaradio delivered just that with a walk-off single, breaking the game’s 5-5 tie. Trailing 5-2 entering the ninth, Annunziata drew a walk on a full count with two outs already registered. Senior Tyler Boyd then followed with a double to left-center field, which scored Annunziata and cut the Hoyas’ lead to 5-3. Falconi then stepped to the

plate and singled to center field, which scored Boyd, and then advanced to second while the center fielder attempted a throw to home plate. Georgetown made a pitching change to try and stop the bleeding, but Ramiz stepped up to the plate and ran out an infield single. Georgetown reliever David Ellingson made a throwing error that allowed pinch runner sophomore Jackson Martin to score the tying run from third base. Georgetown struck first in the game, scoring runs in the top of the first and second innings off Hall starter Anthony Elia. After giving up the first two runs, the senior settled into a solid performance, giving up just two earned runs in six and two-thirds innings while registering a no decision. The Pirates got a run in the bottom of the fourth. Weigel reached on a throwing error by Georgetown's third baseman to start the inning, stole second base and scored on an RBI single by senior Kyle Grimm, cutting the Hoya lead to 2-1. After the Pirates tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI ground out by Grimm, the Hoyas struck the scoreboard for runs in the top of each the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. The Pirates will enter the Big East Championship on Thursday, May 21 as the No. 3 seed, where they will face No. 2 seed, Creighton. The game will be played in Omaha, Nebraska. Dennis Chambers can be reached at dennis.chambers@student.shu.edu.