The baseball team had an eventful start to spring break, taking a series over Manhattan, picking up a pair of Atlantic 10 conference weekly awards and getting ready for a road swing through California. Here’s what happened around the horn for the Colonials this weekend.
Weekend series:
The Colonials won two of three games against Manhattan over the weekend to bring them to 7-3 on the season, the team’s best start since 1983 – when their current head coach Gregg Ritchie was in his first season as a Colonial.
In the first game of the series, junior Bobby LeWarne continued his hot start. The Colonials won 3-1, with LeWarne improving to 3-0 on the season. He went seven innings, using 105 pitches to strike out seven and walk none.
LeWarne retired the last 12 batters he faced before the dominant duo in the bullpen came in to close out the game. Redshirt senior Craig LeJeune retired the three batters he faced in the eighth with 12 pitches and two strikeouts. Sophomore Eddie Muhl picked up his third save of the season on nine pitches and one strikeout.
The Manhattan starter threw a complete game, but gave up two runs too many. GW scored the go-ahead run in the fifth. Sophomore shortstop Kevin Mahala doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning. He was then bunted over to third. Freshman Robbie Metz continued his tear at the plate with an RBI single to third base on a 1-2 pitch. Mahala would score the third and final run in the seventh after singling up the middle.
The second and third games in the series were played as a part of a doubleheader Sunday. GW won the first game 8-4 and dropped the second 10-3.
The bullpen pieced together the first game, combining for 6.2 innings with junior Jacob Williams picking up the win. Sophomore Jordan Sheinkop got the start, but only lasted 2.1 innings after yielding three runs on two hits and two walks. Two of those runs were inherited after Sheinkop left the game with two runners on. Williams came in and gave up a three-run home run.
Freshman Brady Renner came in and stopped the bleeding, throwing three innings of one-hit ball. LeJeune finished the final inning with three strikeouts.
GW scored in five of eight innings at the plate, including three runs in the first two innings and a three spot in the fifth. Mahala homered to lead off the fifth inning. Junior Matthieu Robert went 3-4 with two RBI and one run scored, including an RBI double to right center in the second inning after a seven pitch at bat. Sophomore Andrew Selby also went 3-4, with two runs scored. The top three hitters in the lineup each collected two hits.
Junior College transfer Shane Kemp picked up his first start in the backend of the doubleheader. The junior lasted three-plus innings, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks to pick up the loss.
The three runs came in the fourth, which started with a hit batsman on a 3-0 pitch, a walk on four straight balls and a single to left punctuated by an error from sophomore Joey Bartosic, allowing one run to score. Unable to record an out, sophomore Andrew Piccin came in and after striking out the first batter, was tagged with a triple to left center to score the final two of the inning.
Following Piccin’s fourth inning, the bullpen didn’t help keep the Colonials in the game, giving up seven runs between four pitchers. Down 4-1 entering the eighth inning, GW gave up four runs, three credited to freshman Kevin Hodgson.
Metz and sophomore Eli Kashi both picked up two hits. Kashi drove in the Colonials’ lone earned run. The other two scored on errors.
A-10 awards:
Robbie Metz was named Rookie of the Week for the third time in four weeks of awards. GW did not play in the week he did not win because of weather.
Metz won his first game on the mound with a 5-1 win over Georgetown on Wednesday. He pitched seven innings, giving up one run on six hits. In that game, he went 2-3 with one RBI, one run scored and two stolen bases.
In the week, Metz batted .571 (8-14) with three RBI, two runs, two stolen bases and one double – plus the win on the mound.
Bobby LeWarne earned Co-Pitcher of the Week honors. It marked the second time in his career that he’s won the recognition. His start Saturday earned him his third win on the season. He retired the last 12 hitters he faced, including striking out the side in his final inning of work.
Spring break in Cali:
GW travels to Los Angeles to start their spring break road swing through California. They will play four games while on the West Coast.
The Colonials will face stronger competition in the Golden State than they have faced so far this season. The road trip will not only serve as a place for warm weather and team bonding, but as a litmus test for the young team’s College World Series goal.
GW will face perennial powerhouse Long Beach State at 9 p.m. EST on Wednesday. The team will then travel to Cal State Northridge for a three-game series beginning Friday.
