George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Maryland
Maryland Defeats GW On 9th Inning Walk-Off Homer
3/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 1, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, MD - For the second time in four games, George Washington University (1-5) was beaten by a walk-off home run as Maryland's (4-6) centerfielder Nick Jowers broke a 4-4 ninth inning tie with his first collegiate home run to defeat the Colonials, 5-4, Wednesday afternoon in the Terps' home opener at Shipley Field.
Freshman RHP Tim Sexton (0-2) relieved starter RHP Derrik Lutz (Grantville, PA / Lower Dauphin) in the bottom of the ninth inning and surrendered Jowers' leadoff game-winning blast.
GW held a 4-0 advantage through three and a half innings, but Maryland scored a run in the fourth and three in the fifth to tie the game 4-4.
Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, right fielder Dan Benick doubled home a run with two outs and came around to score on a wild pitch and a throwing error to make it a 4-3 contest.
Second baseman Dan Melvin followed with a base hit and was tripled home by first baseman Gerry Spessard to tie the game, 4-4.
Three of the Terps' first four runs were unearned as the Colonials committed three errors in the game.
GW took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when right fielder Gavin Swanson (Reisterstown, MD / Calvert Hall College) knocked in catcher Andrew Abokhair (Ashburn, VA / Broad Run) with a base hit.
Shortstop Michael Parker's (Newton, MA / Newton South) first collegiate home run was followed by back-to-back doubles from third baseman Tom Shanley (Stanfordville, NY / Pine Plains) and second baseman Mickey Shupin (Sea Girt, NJ / Wall), giving the Colonials a 3-0 advantage in the third inning.
In the top of the fourth, left fielder Charlie Kruer (Old Bridge, NJ / Old Bridge) launched a two out solo home run (1) to centerfield to make it 4-0.
GW starter RHP Derrik Lutz (Grantville, PA / Lower Dauphin) allowed one earned and struck out six in 8.0 as he took the no decision.
Terps' starter LHP John Dischert went just three innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits.
Three Maryland relievers combined to go the final six innings and allowed just one run.
LHP Brett Cecil (2-1) entered the top of the eighth inning with one on and no out and retired the Colonials without a run to earn the win.
GW opens a three-game series this weekend against Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.
The first pitch for Friday's game is 4:00 PM.
GW will send RHP Brian Frazier (Allentown, PA / Emmaus) to the mound.
-GW-
