GW Baseball Wins Third Straight, 6-5, Over Niagara

Saturday, February 28

ARLINGTON, VA

1:00 PM

George Washington University

4-1

NIAGARA

0-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Niagara	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	2	0	5	12	1
George Washington	0	0	0	2	0	0	4	0	X	6	9	0

GW will go for the series sweep over Niagara on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.

2/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 28, 2015

Box Score

ARLINGTON, Va. - The George Washington baseball team (4-1) scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to erase a 3-2 deficit and held off a late rally to win its third straight game, 6-5, over Niagara (0-4) on Saturday afternoon at Tucker Field at Barcroft Park.

Sophomore Joey Bartosic led off the bottom of the first inning with a base hit up the middle to extend his school-record hit streak to 19 consecutive games, but GW was unable to take advantage of a second-and-third situation with two outs.

The score remained tied at 0-0 through the first three innings before Niagara pushed across two runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead.

The Colonials responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning to tie the score. Senior Ryan Xepoleas singled with one out and then advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Senior Brookes Townsend lined a 2-1 pitch to left field to drive in Xepoleas and bring GW within one at 2-1. After a groundout advanced Townsend to second base, sophomore Andrew Selby battled back from an 0-2 count to drive a 3-2 pitch to deep centerfield for a RBI triple to tie the score at 2-2.

The Purple Eagles used a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning to regain the lead at 3-2.

GW seized the lead for good with four runs in the seventh. Bartosic started the rally with a one-out walk and advanced to third on a double by freshman Robbie Metz. Sophomore Bobby Campbell followed by bunting for a base hit, earning a RBI on a successful squeeze play to tie the game at 3-3.

Moments later, Metz scored on a passed ball to give the Colonials a 4-3 lead. Xepoleas drew a walk to put runners on first and second before a double steal moved the pair into scoring position for Townsend, who responded with a two-run single to put GW ahead, 6-3.

Niagara threatened in the eighth inning with two runs but sophomore Eddie Muhl entered the game and halted the comeback attempt. Muhl pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second save of the season.

Townsend finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored to pace the offense. Campbell went 1-for-3 with one run, one walk and one RBI.

Freshman Tyler Swiggart earned his first career win after pitching one inning, allowing two earned runs with two strikeouts.

As a team, GW went 6-for-6 in steal attempts and is now 16-for-17 on the season.

GW will go for the sweep in game three on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.