ARLINGTON, Va.– Despite overcoming a seven-run third inning deficit and a three-run ninth inning deficit, the Tigers (19-19) dropped their second straight extra inning game on Wednesday, falling to George Washington University (12-24).
Senior second baseman Justin Albright singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning as the Colonials edged the Tigers by a 10-9 margin in 10 innings at Barcroft Field.
The Colonials, who had squandered an early 7-0 lead and a 9-6 advantage in the ninth inning, survived the Tigers' comeback when Albright singled up the middle to score shortstop Matthew Murakami from third base to give the Colonials the one-run victory. It was Albright's fifth base hit of the game.
With one out in the bottom of the tenth, Murakami singled to centerfield. When centerfielder Ryan Hickey singled to right, Murakami reached third base. Moments later, Albright's single enabled the Colonials to snap their seven-game winning streak with a 10-9 victory.
The Tigers had nearly gone ahead in the top of the tenth. Senior first baseman Kurtis Voytell led off the tenth with a single up the middle. After he reached second base on a wild pitch by Kenny O'Brien, he advanced to third base when junior second baseman Pat Fitzgerald laid down a sacrifice bunt. Catcher Zach Fisher tried to score Voytell from third base with a bunt but O'Brien made a great play and shoveled the ball from his glove to catcher Matthieu Robert, who tagged him out. The Colonials escaped the jam when shortstop Hunter Bennett grounded out to end the inning.
The Colonials built a 7-0 lead in the first two innings of the game as they scored seven runs on seven hits off starting pitcher David Sapp.
Albright led off the tenth with a single to left field. When Nolan Lodden followed with a double to left, GW had runners on second and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly by rightfielder Tyler McCarthy scored the first run of the game. After Sapp issued a walk to first baseman Brooke Townsend, leftfielder Owen Beightol grounded back to the pitcher while Lodden scored to give GW a 2-0 lead. When third baseman Eric Kalman singled to centerfield, Townsend came home to give the Colonials a 3-0 lead. After a single by Robert Murakami was retired on a fly ball to left.
In the bottom of the second, the Colonials added four runs to take a 7-0 lead. Centerfielder Xavier Parkmond led off with a triple to right centerfield. After Albright was hit by a pitch, he stole second base. A wild pitch enabled Parkmond to score while Albright reached third base. After Lodden grounded out to third base, McCarthy reached on a bunt single. However, a throwing error on the play by Sapp enabled Albright to score while McCarthy reached third base. A sacrifice bunt by Townsend allowed McCarthy to score, giving GW a 6-0 advantage. When Beightol hit a solo home run to left field, the Colonials owned a 7-0 lead. At that point, Sapp was relieved by freshman righthander Joe Patton. Patton retired Kalman on a fly ball to left, ending the inning.
The Tigers started their comeback in the third inning. With one out, Fisher doubled to rightfield. After Bennett grounded out, sophomore Peter Bowles doubled to left, driving in the Tigers' first run. The Tigers had two runners on base when junior Dominic Fratantuono was hit by a pitch but Albright, who was pitching for GW, retired junior Kurt Wertz on a pop up to end the threat.
In the bottom of the third, the Colonials restored their seven-run lead. Robert walked to lead off the inning. He advanced to second base when Murakami grounded out. A sacrifice bunt by Parkmond enabled Robert to reach third base. When Albright doubled down the left field line, Robert scored to give GW an 8-1 advantage. Patton stranded Albright on second base when he retired Lodden on a ground ball to first base.
Junior centerfielder Brandon Gonnella led off the fourth inning with a single for the Tigers. With one out, Voytell singled to centerfield as Gonnella reached third base. Senior Cody Reeves grounded into a force play as Gonnella scored to cut the deficit to 8-2. Fisher popped up to end the threat.
Trailing by 8-2 in the fifth inning, the Tigers rallied to get back in the game. Bennett led off with a double to left. When Bowles reached on an error and Fratantuono was hit by a pitch, Towson had the bases loaded with no outs. Wertz grounded into a force play as Bennett scored to make it an 8-3 game. Gonnella lined a double to left, driving in a run to make it 8-4 and knocking Albright out of the game as a pitcher. With runners on second and third and one out, Danny O'Donnell came in to pitch while Albright went to second base. A walk to third baseman Brendan Butler loaded the bases. Voytell grounded into a force play as Bowles scored to cut the lead to 8-5. With Voytell on first and Gonnella on third, they tried a double steal. Voytell was thrown out at second base while Gonnella scored to make it an 8-6 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Colonials upped their lead to 9-6. With one out, Albright doubled to left. An RBI single by O'Donnell enabled Albright to score and knocked Patton out of the game. Junior lefthander Kyle Paul relieved him and retired the side.
In the last of the seventh, the Colonials had two runners on base and no outs but Paul retired the next three hitters to keep the lead at 9-6. In the eighth, Paul survived another threat. Albright led off with a double. But, Paul struck out O'Donnell and got McCarthy to line into an inning-ending double play.
Still trailing by 9-6 entering the ninth inning, the Tigers rallied to tie the game. Bennett started the uprising with a double to left center. At that point, Craig Lejeune relieved O'Donnell. Bowles greeted him with an infield single as Bennett stayed at second base. When Fratantuono singled to left, the Tigers had the bases loaded with no outs.
Wertz cut the deficit to 9-8 when he doubled to right center, scoring Bennett and Bowles. Gonnella hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Fratantuono with the tying run. However, Wertz was trapped in a rundown between second and third and was retired for the second out of the inning. Butler grounded out to end the threat.
O'Brien was the winning pitcher for the Colonials. He pitched one scoreless inning of relief and allowed one hit. Paul was the hard-luck loser. He gave up one run on six hits in four innings of work.
Led by Albright, who had three doubles among his five hits, the Colonials outhit the Tigers, 16-14. Albright also scored three runs and drove in two. Beightol added two hits and had two RBI's. Kalman also added a pair of hits for GW.
Fisher and Bowles led the Tigers with three hits each. Fisher was three-for-six with a run scored. Bowles was three-for-five with two runs scored. Bennett had two hits, both doubles, and scored twice. Wertz was one-for-three and had three RBI's. Gonnella also had two hits, scored two runs and drove in two. Voytell also had two hits for the Tigers, who dropped their second straight extra-inning game. Towson had dropped 5-4 decision at Bucknell in 11 innings on Tuesday.
With the loss, Towson dropped to 2-8 in one-run games.
The Tigers, who are now 13-13 on the road, return to action next Wednesday when they host Maryland at 3:30 p.m.
