Six-Run Eighth Inning Boosts Baseball to 8-4 Victory

Tuesday, April 30

Arlington, Va.

3:30 p.m.

George Washington University

25-20

Penn

21-17

Penn

George Washington

4/30/2019 7:44:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Fassnacht launches team's first grand slam of the campaign

ARLINGTON, Va. - A grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning from junior Nate Fassnacht helped surge GW baseball to a come-from-behind win on Tuesday afternoon at Tucker Field at Barcroft Park, 8-4 over Penn.

Fassnacht went the other way over the 20-foot wall in right field for his ninth long ball of the year as part of a six-run frame that turned a 3-2 deficit into an 8-3 lead. The Colonials loaded the bases with one out and tied the game when first-year Cade Fergus was hit by a pitch. Junior Steve Barmakian coaxed a five-pitch walk to put GW in front before Fassnacht launched the first pitch he saw to blow the game open.

A game characterized as a battle between two of the nation's top 30 offenses instead turned into a pitcher's duel early on with junior Jaret Edwards battling a parade of Quaker arms.

Both teams scored in the first inning with Fassnacht tying the game in the home half on an RBI groundout. From there, though, the two offenses weren't able to muster much.

Edwards cruised through six-plus frames, skirting around a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the third inning with a pair of comebackers. He then received aid from his defense with a well-executed rundown in the fifth and set down the next four hitters he faced.

Edwards ran into trouble, though, in the seventh when the first two reached. Both eventually came around to score, putting Penn ahead, 3-2. The Colonials had moved ahead in the home half of the sixth with a bases loaded fielder's choice from first-year Logan Doran.

Edwards finished with a no-decision, giving up three runs on seven hits with a pair of punchouts in his ninth start of the year. Senior Pat Knight earned the win in relief, tossing a scoreless eighth and wading through a bit of trouble in the ninth, but still finishing off the game.

Sophomore Tyler Hix led GW offensively with a 3-for-5 day, including a double. Barmakian and junior Greg Anderberg collected a pair of hits as well.

GW wraps up its non-conference home slate on Wednesday, welcoming in Coppin State for a 3 p.m. first pitch.