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SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — Junior starter Sean Black (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) (4-4) struck out six batters across eight scoreless innings, while senior Chris Affinito (East Brunswick, N.J.) delivered a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the seventh as the Pirates defeated Georgetown, 2-0, Friday evening at Owen T. Carroll Field. With the win, the Pirates (17-19, 7-9) have won two-in-a-row, and snapped their five-game BIG EAST losing streak.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, junior Michael Rogers (Portland, Ore.) reached base on a one-out bunt past the pitcher on the right side of the infield. Sophomore Ed Brown (Edison, N.J.) was hit by a pitch and each runner moved up a base on a wild pitch prior to senior Matt Smedberg (Rockaway, N.J.) being hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, Affinito stepped into a two-strike pitch to rip a single through the left side of the infield scoring Rogers and Brown for the, 2-0, advantage.
Georgetown (11-27, 4-12) threatened to score the first run of the game in four of their innings, however Black, along with a strong defense, held the game scoreless.
In the top of the second inning, Sean Baumann reached base on a one-out walk and advanced to third base when Dan Capeless singled, however Dan Godefroi grounded into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
In the top of the fourth, Erick Fernandez hit a one-out double, however Black struck out Sean Lamont and induced Baumann to ground out to shortstop to end the inning.
Tom Elliot led off the top of the sixth inning with a triple to left-center field, but was caught at third base when Tommy Lee grounded a pitch to third base where Pirates sophomore Sean Gusrang (Burlington, N.J.) fielded the ball and caught Elliot on his way to the plate before running him back to third base, flipping the ball to classmate A.J. Rusbarsky (Freehold, N.J.) for the first out. Andy Lentz grounded out to third base for the second out and Lamont struck out looking ending the inning.
In the seventh inning, Capeless walked and advanced to third base on a single by Godefroi, but was thrown out at home on an attempted squeeze play by Greg Pustizzi for the second out. Elliot grounded a 3-2 pitch to second base for the third out.
After the Pirates took the lead in the seventh, Georgetown loaded the bases in the top of the eighth inning on two singles and an error with one-out, yet Black again stayed strong on the mound striking out Baumann and forcing Capeless to fly out to right field and end the inning.
Six different Pirate hitters picked up a hit in the game, including Rogers and Brown who scored the two runs.
Tim Adleman (2-7) suffered the loss despite tossing seven innings allowing six hits and two runs while striking out seven. Pirates junior Matt Singer (Bayonne, N.J.) earned his first save of the season pitching a perfect ninth inning.
The Pirates and Hoyas return to action tomorrow afternoon for game two of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and all the action can be heard by tuning into 89.5 FM WSOU or by visiting www.wsou.com.