Baseball lets late lead slip away vs Madonna

After a tight loss to IU Southeast mid-week, Georgetown looked to get back on track against Madonna on Saturday in Chicago. The Tigers had their chances with multiple leads, but the Knights rallied with runs in the 7th and 8th innings for a 7-6 win. The result dropped the Tigers to 1-5 in 1-run games on the season.

Georgetown's offense got to work right away in the top of the 1st. Jarrett Chapman led off with a single and moved to 2nd on a sac bunt. Keano Suarez reached via a hit-by-pitch. Nolan Smith then followed with a double down the left field line to bring Chapman and Suarez home for a 2-0 lead. Aidan Jbara then doubles to right to score Smith and give Anthony Barrera a 3-0 left before he toed the rubber. Madonna got a run back in the bottom of the 1st thanks to a sacrifice fly after a Barrera throwing error on a pickoff attempt.

Both teams went in order in the 2nd. Georgetown threatened in the top of the 3rd. Jose Cazorla walked and Keano Suarez singled with 1 out. The offense went quiet from there as Smith and Jbara each went down swinging. Anthony Barrera sailed through the bottom of the 3rd with 2 strikeouts and a liner.

Georgetown got a run back in the top of the 4th thanks to a sac fly from Jarrett Chapman for a 4-1 lead. The game stayed the same until the bottom of the 6th. Madonna finally broke through against Anthony Barrera. The Knights started the inning with a single, double and 2-run homer to tie the game at 4. Barrera bounced back to retire the next 2. With 2 down, Madonna put a runner on 3rd with a triple. They then took the lead as former Tiger, Justin Starkey, singled to right to put the Knights up, 5-4, after 6.

A single and 2 walks quickly loaded the bases for Georgetown in the top of the 7th. Keano Suarez then stepped in and drew a 3rd straight walk to score Luis Sosa to tie the game at 5. 2 batters later, Aidan Jbara did the same to send Elijah Verge home, giving Georgetown a 6-5 lead and putting Barrera in line for the win.

Dillon Bland came on in relief of Barrera to start the 7th. Madonna started the inning with a double. Bland then threw a wild pitch to move the tying run to 3rd. The Knights then followed with a single to left to tie the game and give Barrera a no-decision. Georgetown got out of dodge with a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Bland went back out for the 8th and after a ground out to start, the reliever allowed a walk and single to put runners at the corners. Bryson Huwar was called out of the bullpen to keep things steady. Huwar struck out the first batter he faced for the 2nd out. Madonna then got aggressive on the basepaths with a double steal to take the 7-6 lead. Georgetown went quietly in the 9th to give Madonna the win.

Bland took the loss after being charged with 2 earned runs in 1.1 innings of work. Barrera finished his day tossing 6 innings, allowing 6 hits and 5 runs (4 earned). Nolan Smith and Aidan Jbara drove in 2 runs each and had 2 of the Tigers' 3 doubles in the game.

Georgetown stays in Chicago to take on Saint Xavier on Sunday. The doubleheader starts at Noon ET.