The GW men’s baseball team lost two of three games to host UNC-Wilmington at Brooks Field last weekend. The Colonials lost an 8-4 rubber match Sunday afternoon after splitting a Saturday doubleheader with the Seahawks. The opening weekend was the start of the team’s seven-game road trip to begin the season.
The Colonials face James Madison Tuesday afternoon and then travel to North Carolina-Charlotte for a weekend series with the 49ers. GW’s Chris Worth and Greg Conden struggled in their season debuts and both recorded losses, but Jason Baker pitched seven strong innings to earn his first victory as a Colonial. Junior Mike Bassett belted his first home run of the season Sunday and finished the weekend with five hits, three runs and four RBI.
UNC-Wilmington 8, GW 4
Sunday, Feb. 18
After a solid comeback performance by the Colonials in game two of the three-game series with UNC-Wilmington, GW fell short in Sunday’s rubber match, losing 8-4 to the host Seahawks. The Colonials quickly fell behind as UNC-Wilmington scored six runs in the first two innings. Sophomore pitcher Greg Condon gave up the six runs on five hits, lasting only an inning and two-thirds in his season debut.
GW was able to get up on the scoreboard in the fifth inning when junior Mike Bassett belted his first home run of the season. Centerfielder Tony Dokoupil had an RBI single in a two-run sixth inning for GW, but the Seahawks responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning
“It was our first time outside on the field this season,” Dokoupil said. “I think for our first time, we played well as a team.”
GW scored its fourth and final run in the ninth on an RBI single by senior Nick Iovacchini. Ron Christie pitched four innings in relief of Conden giving up two runs, two hits and three walks. Bryan Beggs and Josh Courage pitched the final two and a third innings for GW.
GW 4, UNC-Wilmington 2
Saturday, Feb. 17
The Colonials bounced back from a game-one loss in the fifth inning of the second game as Mike Bassett had a two-out, two-run single to erase a 2-1 deficit and led GW to a 4-2 win. Junior right hander Jason Baker pitched a seven inning complete game in his GW debut, giving up just four hits to UNC-Wilmington, while striking out five. After Dan Rouhier scored on a double-play giving the Colonials a 1-0 lead in the second inning, the Seahawks responded with two RBI singles in the fourth. After Bassett knocked home teammates Travis Crowder and Jake Wald, junior-transfer Tony Brown knocked in Wald with an RBI single in the seventh to secure GW’s first win of the season.
UNC-Wilmington 8, GW 4
Saturday, Feb. 17
Just when the Colonials recovered from a two-run home run given up by junior Chris Worth in the bottom of the first inning, UNC-Wilmington scored three more runs en route to an 8-4 win over GW. Dan Rouhier helped out the Colonials with an RBI double in the top of the second and junior Bassett contributed an RBI in the fourth to briefly tie the score. But, the Seahawks managed to score three runs in the bottom of the inning, two in the seventh and one in the eighth to secure their lead over the Colonials. GW scored two runs on an RBI ground out by Rouhier and a sacrifice fly by senior Ross Smirne in the ninth inning.
