March 2, 2006
Box Score
BETHESDA, Md. - Georgetown designated hitter Timmy Jones went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and two runs batted in as the Hoyas defeated Navy, 8-5, in baseball action at Shirley Povich Field on Thursday afternoon. The Midshipmen dropped to 8-3-1 on the year, while the host Hoyas upped their mark their mark to 6-3.
Navy's pitchers combined to issue eight walks on Thursday, which proved to be costly as five of the eight Hoyas that reached on a free pass came around to score. Also, the Midshipmen were caught stealing twice on pickoff moves to first base.
"We can't make the mistakes on the bases we did today and expect to win," stated Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "In addition, you can't defend the walk. Putting the two together, that was probably today's game."
Navy jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first courtesy of a Thomas Hamilton (Houston, Texas) two-run blast to left-center that brought in Jonathan Johnston (Hamilton Township, N.J.). The round-tripper was the first of the season for Hamilton and the second of his career.
Georgetown knotted the score in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of singles off the bats of Timmy Jones and Drew Dargen.
The Hoyas took a 3-2 lead in the third inning with an infield single by Brandon Davis. Jones delivered a leadoff, solo home run in the fifth inning to give the hosts a 4-2 advantage.
The Midshipmen cut the deficit in half during the top-half of sixth with a Jared Munde (Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.) run-scoring groundout to plate Mitch Harris (Mt. Holly, N.C.).
However, Georgetown put up a three-spot in the bottom of the seventh to push the lead to 7-3. Dargen delivered a two-run single to left with the bases loaded, then two batters later, Matt Harrigan lifted a sacrifice fly to center that scored Ryan Craft.
Navy capitalized on two Georgetown throwing errors to plate two runs in the eighth inning. Joshua Martinez (Denver, Colo.) produced an infield, RBI-single and B.J. Bickel (Benson, N.C.) brought home Munde on a fielder's choice to bring the Midshipmen within two at 7-5. However, with runners on the corners and one out, Bickel was caught stealing and Georgetown reliever Dan Kennedy was able to get the final out of the inning.
The Hoyas tacked on an insurance run in the eighth on a Derek deGrijs RBI-double that made the score 8-5. Navy had the tying run at the plate after a Johnston single and Hamilton walk, but Kennedy retired the final-two batters to give the hosts the victory.
Freshman starter Matt White (Yorba Linda, Calif.) picked up the loss, giving up four runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Tyler Haught (Washington, Pa.) came out of the bullpen and hurled 1.1 innings in his first-career appearance, while sophomore Kevin Heasley (Cincinnati, Ohio) and junior Daniel Kovalcik (Westwood, Mass.) each tossed an inning of relief.
"The positive thing today with Matt (White) is that he hung in there and found his groove," Kostacopoulos said. "Making his first start in a month, this gives him something he can build off of."
Johnston recorded his fourth three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored. Martinez also produced a season-high three hits, including a run batted in.
"Jonathan (Johnston) goes out there everyday and gives it his all," commented Kostacopoulos. "He continues to prove that he's a solid baseball player."
Kostacopoulos added, "Joshua (Martinez) is starting to prove he belongs in the lineup. He is a competitor that had some good swings and hit the ball hard today."
Georgetown freshman starter Darren Sizemore earned the win, scattering seven hits and three runs over a season-long seven innings pitched.
Dargen joined Jones in the multi-hit department with a 2-for-5 effort and three runs batted in.
The Midshipmen next play their first-home game in a month on Saturday (March 4) with a noon doubleheader on Central Connecticut State. Live stats will be available for the weekend series versus the Blue Devils via GameTracker on Navy's website (www.navysports.com).
