3-24-19
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senior Joe Giovinco (Stirling, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) and junior Sean Murphy (Westfield, Mass./Westfield) combined for nine hits, six runs, and four RBI as Gettysburg College (1-0) opened its campaign with a 12-2 victory over Marymount (Va.) University at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy Sunday afternoon.
Gettysburg’s Top Performers
- Joe Giovinco ’20 – 4-5, 3 Runs, Double, Home Run, 3 RBI
- Sean Murphy ’21 – 5-6, 3 Runs, RBI
- Matt Szczesny ’21 (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) – 3-5, 2 Runs, Double, RBI
- Mark Seibert ’22 (Yardley, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) – 3-5, 2 RBI
- Erik Wortmann ’21 (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) – Win (1-0), 6 IP, 6 Hits, 2 Runs (unearned)
- Nate Masteralexis ’22 (Amherst, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon) – Save (1), 3 IP, 1 Hit, 3 Strikeouts
Marymount’s Top Performers
- Bobby Leitzel – 2-2
- Bill Wojcik – 1-3, Run, Double
Game Summary
- Marymount struck first with an unearned run off a sacrifice fly in the second inning, but the Bullets answered in a big way in the top of the next frame. A dozen hitters went up to the plate with the visitors bringing across six runs on six hits, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. Decker provided the first of four consecutive hits for the Orange and Blue to drive in the first run and Szczesny made it 4-0 with a bloop single to drive in another run. Gasparro drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and Muir picked up a bases-loaded walk to lift Gettysburg to a 6-1 advantage.
- Murphy singled with one out in the top of the fourth and advanced to second on a passed ball. After Szczesny was hit by a pitch, Giovinco stroked a single through the left side to plate Murphy from second.
- The Saints threated in the bottom of the fifth with three singles to start the frame. Szczesny made a heads-up play to get the lead runner out at third on the third hit before starting an inning-ending double-play on the next ball put into play.
- Wojcik did most of the work to produce Marymount’s second run in the sixth, drawing a one-out walk and swiping second base with two outs. After advancing to third on an error, the Saint runner came around to score on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 7-2.
- Gettysburg tacked on three more runs in the eighth inning. After back-to-back singles by Murphy and Szczesny, Giovinco’s attempted sacrifice bunt to move the runners led to a throwing error at first and the first run. Seibert followed with a two-run single to center field to plate Szczesny and Giovinco.
- Giovinco put a final exclamation point on a big day at the plate by mashing a two-run homer in the ninth inning.
By the Numbers
- Gettysburg posted the most runs it’s scored in a season opener since beating Rivier 12-0 to start the 2016 campaign. The two 12-run outings mark the highest-scoring output in the opener since the Bullets put up 25 against Concordia to kick off the 1990 season.
- The team’s 19 base knocks were the most since posting 21 against Johns Hopkins University on April 10, 2018.
- Murphy topped his previous personal high for hits by two and finished one shy of the program’s single-game record set by Logan Sneed ’18 against Messiah in the final contest of the 2018 season.
- Giovinco tied his career marks for hits and RBI and set a new best with eight total bases.
- Wortmann picked up right where he left off the 2019 season. The big righty twirled a complete-game victory against Juniata to close his sophomore campaign and he came up with six solid innings Sunday, allowing no earned runs and just six hits. Wortmann induced eight groundouts and struck out one.
- Masteralexis worked the final three innings of relief to earn his first career save. He allowed one hit and one walk, while fanning three batters.
Where the Series Stands
After seeing their first-ever meeting cancelled due to weather last season, Marymount and Gettysburg finally met on the diamond Sunday. The two teams will also square off during spring break in less than two weeks in Fort Pierce, Fla.
This story was originally posted on the Gettysburg College Website.