Baker struggles in opening loss to Blue Raiders

Chad Baker's tough run continued on Monday in the series-opener against Lindsey Wilson. Georgetown's top starter was tagged for 7 earned runs in just 1.1 innings in a 9-6 loss that dropped Georgetown to 0-10 in the MSC.

Baker was given a cushion before even taking the mound. Jarrett Chapman led off the game with a double to right. He moved to third on a Payton Rios infield single. Jose Cazorla then stepped in and launched a missile over the left field wall for a 3-run homer and the lead going to the bottom of 1. Lindsey Wilson returned the favor on Baker immediately. A leadoff single, stolen base and a double put the first run up for the Blue Raiders. 2 batters later, Lindsey Wilson tagged Baker with a 3-run homer of its own to cap a 4-run half-inning and take a 4-3 lead going to the 2nd.

Georgetown took the edge right back in the top of 2. A leadoff walk from Jacob VonThaden was followed by a 2-run homer from Jarrett Chapman to dead center to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead. Rios followed with another infield single, stole second, and scored on a Nolan Smith single to center for a 6-4 lead after an inning and a half. Baker could not hold the lead. With 1 out and a runner on 2nd, Baker surrendered another home run that tied the game at 6. Baker's day lasted 1 more batter, whom he hit to put another runner on. He was pulled for Beau Becker, who allowed 2 singles, as Lindsey Wilson took the lead, 7-6, after 2.

After a quiet 3rd inning, Georgetown had a chance in the top of the 4th. Luis Sosa doubled to the right center gap to start. After a Jarrett Chapman walk, Payton Rios flied out to right and moved Sosa to 3rd. Jose Cazorla stepped in and lined a ball to left that turned into an inning-ending double play with Sosa being nabbed out. Lindsey Wilson played long ball in the bottom of the inning with a 2-out solo shot off Becker for an 8-6 lead after 4.

The Tigers had another shot for runs in the top of the 5th. Nolan Smith reached on an error to start the inning. Elijah Verge then laid down a bunt and beat the throw to 1st as Smith moved to 2nd. With 1 out, Diondre Jacob singled to center to load the bases. The threat soon ended as Jacob VonThaden grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Another chance was squandered in the top of the 6th. Luis Sosa drew a leadoff walk. With 1 out, Sosa stole 2nd and 3rd. Payton Rios walked to put runners on the corners. After a strikeout from Cazorla, Nolan Smith walked to load the bases. Elijah Verge could not deliver as a fly out to center stranded the bags full and kept Lindsey Wilson in the lead. It proved the final threat. Lindsey Wilson added another run in the bottom of the inning thanks to 2 wild pitches. Georgetown went down in order in the 7th to end the game.

Chad Baker took the loss to drop to 0-5 on the season.