This post was written by Hatchet reporter Ellee Watson.
The Colonials got caught sleeping early Tuesday, but quickly woke up from their slumber to erupt for a 10-4 victory over Coppin State.
GW entered the game coming off a two-game losing streak to George Mason. That losing energy didn’t carry over against the Eagles, though, as the Colonials slowly built their lead until the Eagles were left fluttering behind.
On the game’s first pitch, freshman second baseman Eli Kashi committed an error to let Coppin State on base. Two batters later, a RBI single up the middle quickly put GW behind, 1-0. A wild pitch and an extra base on a botched bunt rotation gave the Eagles two more base runners, but the Colonials escaped with just the one earned run.
Entering the game, the GW baseball program had never lost to Coppin State, holding a 29-0 series advantage. But despite their historical dominance, head coach Gregg Ritchie believed the Eagles had a legitimate shot – especially after the first inning.
“Every team can beat you if you give them the opportunity,” Ritchie said, “and we gave them an opportunity. They had an opportunity to get us. They, unfortunately for them, didn’t do it. Fortunately for us, we held on.”
His team responded to its first inning blunders with three runs over the next two innings. By the bottom of the fifth, the Colonials were leading 4-2, and decided to break things open. Responsible for the eruption was the heart of GW’s batting order: freshman Bobby Campbell, senior Owen Beightol, and junior Ryan Xepoleas.
Campbell took the plate with one out and drew a walk from Coppin State pitcher Jhar Delvime. Beightol was next and roped a triple to bring Campbell in, making the score 5-2. Xepoleas followed with a double to bring Beightol in for a 6-2 lead.
The three, four and five slots in the Colonials’ line-up brought the score to its final 10-4 tally with an RBI from Campbell, another hit from Beightol and another RBI from Xepoleas.
Campbell finished the game with one run and RBI and Beightol with two runs, two hits and two RBIs. Xepoleas added three hits, one run, and three RBIs.
Sophomore Matthieu Robèrt could not practice all weekend with a stomach virus, but Ritchie decided to keep him in the lineup as the designated hitter. Robèrt rose to the occasion, going 4-4 and leading the offense with two runs, four hits, and four RBIs.
Earning his first collegiate victory was freshman starting pitcher Brandon Ritchie. He had trouble out of the gates, throwing three wild pitches, but his final line was more than deserving of the win: six innings pitched, three earned runs and four strikeouts on 98 pitches.
Freshman Eddie Muhl came in for the three-inning save, but also had trouble to start, “throwing ball one, ball two”, Ritchie said. “He was in trouble every inning except that last one.”
The Colonials face Towson at Barcroft Park Wednesday before heading to Philadelphia for an Atlantic 10 series against La Salle.
“We got to come out [against Towson] with some energy and a better attitude and effort to get going right in the first inning,” Ritchie said. “We have a chance to create a legitimate streak because one is not, two is. It would be nice to get that win and take us into that weekend A-10 series. That’s the key. Take the win into the A-10 series, and see if we can get a sweep.”
