The Colonials baseball team is still searching for its first win after being swept in the three-game series against the South Carolina Gamecocks this weekend.
The Colonials plated a total of 10 runs in three games while giving up 28 runs to the Gamecocks. GW lost the series opener 13–4 on Friday followed by the doubleheader Saturday, losing the first game 10–6 and the second game 5–0 to close out the series.
Freshman outfielder Tim Nicholson led the Colonials offense, scoring three runs on five hits in 10 at-bats. The Colonials defense struggled, giving up 26 earned runs on 33 hits and 24 walks over the course of the weekend.
Game one:
The Colonials dropped the first game of the series against the Gamecocks in a 13–4 loss.
The Gamecocks kept a strong offense led by fifth-year outfielder Andrew Eyster, who had three runs on four hits in five at-bats.
Redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Harrison Cohen lasted only 3.1 innings in his second start of the season for the Colonials. The starter gave up eight earned runs and nine total on seven hits. By the end of the game, Colonials pitchers conceded 13 runs on 12 hits while recording just three strikeouts.
The Colonials scored on solo home runs from senior centerfielder Cade Fergus in the second inning and sophomore first baseman Eddie Micheletti in the fifth.
Senior catcher Anthony Frechette and senior second baseman Noah Levin both batted in one run each, but it was not enough to overcome the Gamecock offense. The Colonials would finish with only six hits in 32 at-bats.
Game two:
Despite a season-high 37 at-bats and a strong offense led by junior shortstop Steve DiTomaso’s two runs on four hits, the Colonials fell to the Gamecocks in a 10–6 loss.
The Colonials got their first two runs of the day in the sixth inning. Nicholson scored on a throwing error by the pitcher, and DiTomaso scored on a triple by graduate student outfielder and designated hitter Michael Ludowig.
The Gamecocks once again showed their strong offense, scoring 10 runs on 12 hits and seven walks. Eyster led the Gamecocks for the second game in a row, scoring three runs on two hits in four at-bats.
Levin brought the score within two runs at 7-5 in the eighth inning on his first home run of the year to right field, scoring both DiTomaso and Nicholson.
But later in the inning, the Gamecocks consolidated their lead, scoring two runs on a single from sophomore pinch-hitter Connor Cino and another run on a sacrifice bunt from junior catcher Colin Burgess.
Nicholson singled in the ninth inning to score junior left fielder Logan Leax and finished 3-4 at the plate, but the Colonials still fell short.
Game 3:
After only an hourlong break, the Colonials were shut out 5–0 in the second game of the day and the last of the series.
The Colonials offense managed six hits and three walks in 33 at-bats but failed to score, leaving nine runners in scoring position over the course of the game. Nicolson continued his strong weekend, managing two hits in four at-bats.
The Colonials pitching staff had its best game of the weekend, giving up only five runs on nine hits and striking out five. Graduate right-handed pitcher Justin Solt kept the Gamecocks scoreless through three innings but suffered his second loss of the season after giving up two runs in the fourth.
The South Carolina pitching staff also had their best game of the weekend, shutting out the Colonials and holding them to just to six hits while striking out 11 batters.
The Colonials will return to Arlington for their home opener against Towson Tuesday at 2:30 p.m., hoping to pick up their first win of the season. From there they will host Maine next weekend for another three-game nonconference series.
