Burse slams door on win to split doubleheader

After a tough opener against Saint Xavier, Georgetown's bats came alive in game 2, along with late, clutch pitching as the Tigers won the finale, 9-7, to split with the Cougars.

Saint Xavier took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st off Georgetown's David Edwards. Georgetown came right back in the top of the 2nd as Cole Grable's 1st sac fly of the game brought home Diondre Jacob for the tie. The Cougars immediately retook the lead in the bottom of the inning thanks to a single and 2-run home run for a 3-1 lead. Edwards bounced back by striking out 2 of the final 3 batters to limit the damage.

The top of the 4th saw Georgetown's offense explode. The Tigers put themselves in business immediately thanks to a Diondre Jacob walk and Aidan Jbara double to put them at 2nd and 3rd. With 1 out, Cole Grable's 2nd sac fly brought Jacob home again and moved Jbara to 3rd. 2 more walks loaded the bases for Braden Shepherd. He, too, drew a walk, to force Jbara home to tie the game at 3. Sam Turilli followed with a single to bring Davis Johnson home for a 4-3 Tiger lead. Another walk brought Luis Sosa home to extend the lead. Diondre Jacob stepped in for the 2nd time in the inning and shot a single to right center to score Shepherd and Turilli to cap a 6-run inning and give Georgetown a 7-3 lead after 4.

Saint Xavier came back in the bottom of the 5th against Nathan Beaven. A triple, HBP, and single started the inning and brought a run home. After stolen bases, the Cougars got a 2nd run thanks to a sac fly to cut Georgetown's lead to 7-5. Beaven then threw a pickoff attempt away at 2nd to allow the runner to go to 3rd. A groundout brought the run home to cut the Georgetown lead to 1. Beaven bounced back to get the final out of the inning to preserve the lead.

Georgetown got a crucial run back in the top of the inning. With 2 out, Sam Turilli singled to right and went to 2nd on a Jose Cazorla single. Diondre Jacob walked to load the bases. Aidan Jbara followed with a walk of his own to bring Turilli home and give Georgetown an 8-6 lead. Mason Mortimer pitched the bottom of the 6th and allowed a sac fly to bring Saint Xavier back within 1 at 8-7.

The Tigers turned out more 2-out magic in the top of the 7th. Luis Sosa started the rally with a single to center. Braden Shepherd then singled to left, moving Sosa up 90 feet. Sam Turilli singled to right to bring Sosa home for a 9-7 lead. Jose Cazorla walked to load the bases, but Georgetown could do no more.

Braxton Burse was brought on for the bottom of the 7th and dealt from the start. A weak grounder to 1st, a liner to 2nd and a foul out behind the plate quickly retired the Cougars. In the bottom of the 8th, Saint Xavier got the leadoff runner on via a throwing error. Burse showed strong poise and induced a 6-4-3 double play to erase the runner. A routine fly followed to end the 8th.

After Georgetown went down in order in the top of the 9th, Burse came back out for the bottom of the inning to preserve the win. He quickly retired the 1st 2 batters before Saint Xavier threatened. A walk, followed by a single, put the tying runs on base and brought the winning run to the plate. Burse again kept his composure and got a fly ball to center as the final out to give Georgetown the split.

Braxton Burse dealt over the final 3 innings. The right-hander allowed just the 1 hit and walk in the bottom of the 9th. The only Tiger starter not to record a hit was Cole Grable, but his 2 sacrifice flies proved critical. Grable, Sam Turilli, and Diondre Jacob each drove in 2 runs. Jacob reached base in 4 of his 5 at-bats in the clean-up spot.

Georgetown is next scheduled to play its home opener on Thursday against Michigan-Dearborn. The doubleheader is slated for a 1:00pm first pitch.