Tigers drop pitching duel in game 1 at Saint Xavier

One-run games have not been kind to Georgetown to start the 2025 season. The Tigers played another in the opener of Sunday's doubleheader at Saint Xavier. This one went the wrong way again as Saint Xavier walked it off in the bottom of the 7th for a 1-0 win.

Chad Baker was on the mound for Georgetown. After a strike out, Baker gave up a single, but the runner was erased trying to steal 2nd. A double followed but Baker induced a fly ball to end the threat.

Georgetown went down with 3 straight strikeouts in the top of the 2nd. In the bottom of the inning, SXU put the leadoff runner on via a hit-by-pitch. The runner would ultimately reach 3rd after 2 groundouts but was left there as Baker struck out the final batter of the inning to keep the game scoreless after 2.

Georgetown's first scoring chance came in the top of the 3rd. With 2 out, Jarrett Chapman laced a single to center and then stole second. He would remain there as Elijah Verge went down on strikes to end the threat. Saint Xavier put the pressure on in the bottom of the 3rd. With 1 out, SXU got a triple. Baker struck out the next batter, but then allowed a walk and stolen base to put runners on 2nd & 3rd. The Tiger veteran settled in and got a weak grounder to short to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.

Georgetown's best scoring chance of the game came in the top of the 4th. Jose Cazorla led off and reached via an error. Sam Turilli stepped in and laid down a would-be sac bunt, but he reached after a throwing error by the Cougar catcher. The throw allowed Cazorla to get over to 3rd. Aidan Jbara drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. The momentum fizzled from there as Nolan Smith and Henry Cruz struck out and Jacob VonThaden lined out to 2nd to for the third out.

Each team had scoring chances in the 5th inning. With 1 out in the top, Jarrett Chapman singled to left and moved to 2nd on a sac bunt by Elijah Verge. A wild pitch then sent Chapman to 3rd. Jose Cazorla was intentionallly walked to put runners on the corners. Sam Turilli followed but could not deliver as a fly ball to center wiped away another scoring chance.

Saint Xavier led off with a single, with the runner reaching 2nd on a passed ball on a Chad Baker strikeout. Another strikeout brought the 2nd out. Baker then hit a batter but induced his own fly ball to center to leave the 2 runners stranded and keep the game scoreless. The teams went down in order in the 6th.

Jarrett Chapman gave Georgetown another chance for the lead in the top of the 7th as he smacked a 2-out triple to right center. He would be the last of Georgetown's 8 runners left on base as Elijah Verge struck out to end the top of the 7th.

Bryson Huwar was brought in for Chad Baker in the bottom of the 7th. After a leadoff strikeout, Saint Xavier singled to 3rd. Jarrett Chapman made the play with his glove, but the throw was off line, allowing the runner to get to 2nd. Huwar bounced back with a fly out to center for the 2nd out. The Cougars then found what they were looking for as a double to center brought home the game's only run and handed the Tigers their 4th straight loss, all by 1 run each.

Chad Baker delivered another strong outing in the no-decision. He pitched 6 shut out innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk and striking out 7 on 94 pitches. Georgetown's offense mustered just 3 hits on the day, all of them by Jarrett Chapman.