The Colonials appeared to be coasting to the championship round during the early part of Saturday’s game against Massachusetts when the Minutemen erupted for nine unanswered runs to defeat GW 9-8, eliminating the Colonials from the Atlantic 10 Tournament at Bear Stadium in Boyertown, Pa. The stunning loss to UMass followed Friday’s 9-1 defeat at the hands of Virginia Tech ending GW’s record-breaking season and its chances for an automatic NCAA tournament berth.
GW defeated St. Bonaventure 4-3 in a ten-inning opener Thursday, but the Colonials struggled defensively against Virginia Tech and put themselves in a situation where they would have had to win three straight games to win the double-elimination tournament. The tough loss to UMass ended the Colonials’ chances and GW never got another opportunity to face the eventual champion Hokies.
Virginia Tech defeated Massachusetts 9-6 Saturday to win the tournament returning the Hokies to the NCAAs for the second year in a row.
Including the post-season, the Colonials finished their year solidly with a 37-21 overall record going 17-7 in conference play.
UMass 9, GW 8Saturday, May 20Aaron Senez had two hits including an RBI single that broke an 8-8 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning, completing UMass’ nine-run rally that eliminated the Colonials from the A-10 tourney. The shocking 9-8 comeback victory came after GW exploded for four runs in both the first and second innings.
In the eighth, UMass’ Nick Gorneault singled off GW reliever Glen Skutnik, stole second base and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. With one out, Senez singled home Gorneault giving the Minutemen the lead for good.
GW’s Walker had an RBI single in the first inning and scored on a Mike Bassett three-run blast giving the Colonials an early 4-0 lead. Walker added an RBI double in the second inning as part of another GW four-run frame that knocked out UMass starter Todd Samolewicz.
Jesse Santos relieved Samolewicz and pitched seven and a third innings of four-hit baseball allowing just one run in the second inning. Santos’ pitching halted the GW offense, enabling the Minutemen to begin their comeback. UMass unloaded on GW starter Chris Worth scoring six times in the third inning. Senez belted a two-run triple and four Minutemen batters connected for RBI singles to close the GW lead to 8-6.
Chris Skeffington cut UMass’s deficit to 8-7 in the fifth inning with his second RBI single of the day and then drew a bases loaded walk in the seventh to even the score.
Bassett went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Walker batted 2-for-5 with two runs scored for the Colonials.
This was the first meeting between GW and UMass in five years.
Virginia Tech 9, GW 1Friday, May 19
Virginia Tech homered twice and scored four runs off GW errors as the Hokies handed the Colonials their first loss of the double-elimination tournament, 9-1. Chad Foutz opened the game with a home run and tournament Most Valuable Player Addison Bowman hit a two-out bases clearing double to give the Hokies a 4-0 lead. Walker hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning, but that would be all the offense the Colonials could muster.
Virginia Tech first baseman Nick Perlozzo belted a solo shot of his own in a two-run sixth inning that increased the lead to 7-1.
A-10 Pitcher of the Year Greg Conden pitched seven innings and only gave up three earned runs for the Colonials, but GW’s four errors proved costly against the defending A-10 tourney champions.
GW 4, St. Bonaventure 3Thursday, May 18
Senior Ryan Dacey scored on a St. Bonaventure balk in the top of the tenth inning of Thursday’s A-10 opener to give the Colonials a 4-3 victory over the Bonnies.
Dacey led off the extra inning with a walk and advanced to second after a one-out Walker single. Both runners would advance following a Ryan Hauseman walk and then Dacey scored on pitcher Saul Solveson’s balk.
The Bonnies tied the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off eventual winner Bryan Beggs. The Colonials led 2-0 in the second when GW’s Travis Crowder singled home Eric Mitchell. Mitchell singled earlier in the inning knocking in Dan Rouhier.
St. Bonaventure closed the gap to 2-1 with a run in the sixth inning, but GW extended it to a 3-1 lead in the eighth before the late-game dramatics.
GW’s Adam Belicic struck out seven over seven innings and only allowed one run on three hits. The Colonials victory completed a perfect 4-0 record against the Bonnies this season with three of the wins being decided by one run.
