Pirates Clinch Series With Doubleheader Sweep Over Georgetown

Saturday, May 1

South Orange, N.J.

12 p.m.

Seton Hall University

17-15, 10-3

Georgetown

4-11, 4-8

Georgetown

Seton Hall

Pirates Clinch Series With Doubleheader Sweep Over Georgetown

5/1/2021 7:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Seton Hall saw great pitching from David Festa in game one and clutch hitting in game two

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Seton Hall baseball team improved to 11-3 in the BIG EAST and secured its third BIG EAST series victory of the season on Saturday as the Pirates swept a doubleheader from Georgetown.

The Hall (18-15, 11-3 BIG EAST) was led by junior David Festa (Verona, N.J.) in the 2-0 victory in game one as he tossed a seven-inning complete game, allowed two hits and recorded seven strikeouts. Timely hitting was the story in game two where graduate student Matt Toke (Three Bridges, N.J.) went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI and junior Steve Grober (Hillsborough, N.J.) registered three hits with an RBI and a run scored.

The Pirates' 11 conference victories are the most in the BIG EAST.

Game One:

Festa retired the first six batters he faced before the Pirate offense broke through with the game's first run. After senior Collin Sheehan (Doylestown, Pa.) worked a walk to load the bases, sophomore Jonathan Luders (Lynnfield, Mass.) was able to put the ball in play with a ground ball to shortstop. The Hoyas got an out at second base but Toke scored from third base on the fielder's choice to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Festa continued to deal as he struck out six straight batters from the second out of the fourth through the first out of the sixth. In the home half of the inning, Grober roped a one-out double to left field, giving the Pirates a runner in scoring position. Sheehan would deliver for The Hall as he drove in Grober with a double of his own down the right field line, giving the Pirates some more breathing room with a 2-0 lead.

It was all Festa needed as he finished what he started by retiring the side in the seventh. It marked Seton Hall's 10^th BIG EAST win of the season.

Game Two:

The night cap started off ominously as the Hoyas jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Despite getting down quickly, junior Joe Cinnella (Mahwah, N.J.) – who would go on to win his third game of the season – settled in and was able to keep Georgetown off the scoreboard in his next three innings of work.

The Seton Hall offense would return the favor in the bottom of the fourth where a two RBI single off the bat of Luders tied the score at 2-2. Luders would later score on a wild pitch that would put the Pirates ahead, 3-2.

After junior Brennan O'Neill (Morristown, N.J.) struck out the side in relief in the top of the sixth, an RBI double by sophomore Devin Hack (Somerville, N.J.) made it 4-2 in favor of Seton Hall.

Georgetown would not go away, though, as they would make it a one-run game in the top of the eighth, 4-3. But as the Pirates have done in BIG EAST play this season, a big hit would come about.

Following two quick outs in the home half of the eighth, senior Jerry Huntzinger, (Staten Island, N.Y.) reached on a single, Hack kept the line moving with a base knock, and senior Casey Dana (Montgomery, N.Y.) drew a walk to the load the bases. Up to the plate came Toke and the fifth-year Pirate delivered again with a bases clearing double to right center field that gave Seton Hall some much needed breathing room. Grober continued his strong day with a base hit that scored Toke and made it 8-3 Pirates.

The Hoyas put a run across in the ninth but senior Sean Miller (Newton, N.J.) was able to finish off the ninth, registering the final out with a strikeout looking.

Up Next:

Seton Hall will look for the series sweep tomorrow as the Pirates and the Hoyas square off at 12 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the Pirate Sports Network.