Baseball Rallies for Walk-Off Win over UMass Lowell, 5-4

Sunday, March 10

Arlington, Va.

12 p.m.

George Washington University

7-6

UMass Lowell

1-12

UMass Lowell

George Washington

3/10/2019 4:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Colonials storm back from four down to earn series win

ARLINGTON, Va. - Down to its final strike in the bottom of the ninth, GW baseball tied the game with a two-run double before winning on a walk-off fielder's choice in the 10th, 5-4.

The Colonials (7-6) have now seen four games go extra innings this year with two walk-off wins under their belt. The triumph also secured a series victory for GW, its third straight.

Sunday's action didn't start promising with UMass Lowell plating three runs in the first inning and another in the second to grab a 4-0 lead. From there, though, four Colonial hurlers combined to limit the River Hawks to four hits in eight scoreless innings.

The Buff & Blue's offense was held in check by River Hawk starter Sal Fusco until the sixth when first-year Cade Fergus and junior Steve Barmakian singled and junior Nate Fassnacht walked to load the bases with nobody out. Another walk to sophomore Tyler Hix forced in a run before Barmakian scampered home on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.

The Colonials stayed within two thanks to three straight double plays turned by its defense in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. In the home half of the ninth, GW had a runner on first with two down before rallying to load the bases on singles from junior Alex O'Rourke and first-year Logan Doran.

That led to Fergus, who crushed a 1-2 pitch over the head of the left fielder and up against the wall. Two runs came in to knot the game, but pinch runner Cal Stalzer was thrown out at the plate trying to score the winning run all the way from first.

Nevertheless, GW came right back in the 10th to load the bases with nobody out on a pair of walks and a single. After a strikeout, first-year Noah Levin hit a chopper to short that the River Hawks attempted to turn into a double play. Levin was able to beat out the relay from second, allowing Barmakian to score the winning run.

Fergus and Barmakian notched a pair of hits on the day, as did senior Dom D'Alessandro, who started the ninth inning rally with a leadoff infield single.

Junior Keegan McGinnis earned the win in relief with two scoreless innings, striking out two. Senior Pat Knight and junior Andrew Wheeler also authored two scoreless frames each in relief of starter Alex Kobersteen, who yielded four runs on seven hits in four innings.

GW now turns its attention to a pair of mid-week games at the Tuck, hosting Towson on Tuesday and Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday. Both games are scheduled for 3 p.m. first pitches and will be streamed on ESPN+.