Baseball Tops Presbyterian in Extra-Inning Thriller

Saturday, March 16

Clinton, SC

4 p.m.

George Washington University

10-8

Presbyterian

9-10

George Washington

Presbyterian

3/16/2024 8:02:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

CLINTON, S.C. – The bats came alive at the right time for the George Washington baseball team who capped off its second-straight victory with three runs in the 11^th inning to seal the win. Behind another rock-solid performance from GW's pitching staff, the Revolutionaries held the Blue Hose to just three hits on the day.

GW threatened to score in the first inning, seeing three different runners reach base successfully but couldn't push across any runs. Despite the early base traffic, GW didn't record a hit in the inning, seeing one runner reach via error and the other two on a fielder's choice. On the other side of the ball, Teddy Brennan earned the start for GW and was immediately dominant. Brennan sat down the first 11 batters he faced before Presbyterian recorded its first hit of the game with two outs in the fourth inning.

Later in the fifth inning, Brennan allowed the first two Presbyterian batters to reach base safely but wasn't fazed by the first sign of adversity. With a little help from catcher Tim Nicholson throwing out a Presbyterian base runner trying to steal second base, Brennan managed to get out of the inning unscathed and keep the game scoreless. Brennan would eventually be pulled after the seventh inning, bringing his final stat line to nine strikeouts, one hit allowed and one walk in seven innings pitched. Brennan retired 19 of the 23 batters he faced in total, a dominating effort for the Buff & Blue on the mound.

Brayden Kurtz took over on the mound for GW in the eighth and picked up right where Brennan left off. Kurtz recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth then with the game on the line in the scoreless ninth, he navigated a jam with runners on first and second to push the game to extra innings. Through the first nine innings, both teams tallied a combined six hits, three from each side.

In the 10^th inning, McGwire Tuffy made things interesting with a two out double to center field. Despite the runner in scoring position, GW was unable to capitalize, and the game remained scoreless. After Presbyterian failed to score in the 10^th as well, GW's offense came alive. Sam Gates stepped to the plate in the top of the 11^th and blasted a leadoff home run to finally plate the game's first run. GW wouldn't stop there, adding two more runs in the inning courtesy of a throwing error by Presbyterian's pitcher and an RBI single from Ellis Schwartz.

Leading 3-0, GW turned to Andrew Cutler to seal the victory. Cutler tossed a 1-2-3 inning to secure the win and nail down his first save of the season. Kurtz was credited with the win and moved to 1-2 on the year, while Sean Hollister was charged with the loss for Presbyterian. GW recorded seven hits in the contest, four of which came in the two extra frames. Through 20 innings of baseball with Presbyterian this weekend, the Buff & Blue have held the Blue Hose offense to just five hits. Brennan is the second GW pitcher in a row to toss seven innings after Michael Foltz threw seven innings and allowed only two hits in the team's series-opening win on Friday.

GW looks for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon in Clinton, S.C. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m., with live stats available on GWsports.com.