JACKSON, NJ (April 6, 2025) - It was an exciting two games for Georgian Court Baseball Sunday in Jackson. The Lions got some great pitching, especially out of their bullpen, in game one for a 9-5 win. Game two saw GCU come back from down 4-0 to tie in the seventh, but fell in extra innings, 8-4.

Game 1 - Georgian Court 9, Bridgeport 5
How it Happened
• Georgian Court scored nine runs on 11 hits while Bridgeport collected nine hits to score five runs.
• Bridgeport committed three errors in the field and GCU two. Each team allowed an unearned run.
• Both teams left a ton on base. The Lions stranded 11 and the Purple Knights eight.
• Georgian Court drew six walks and struck out 10 times. Bridgeport was more free-swinging walking three times and striking out four.
• Georgian Court put up a four spot in the first for Bilello. It started with hit-by-pitches on the first two pitches of the game.
• Sammy Cruz drove in a run with a double that hugged the line in right. Larry Rodriguez's drive went about 400 feet, but because the runners had to hold, everyone moved up just one base.
• Wild pitches scored the next two runs and it was a 4-0 Lion lead after the first.
• Bridgeport got one of those back in the second. Jeremy Rodriguez went deep to right center for a solo home run. 
• Cruz drove in another run in the second with another double, this time going to left center to score Alex Elliott. Elliott reached on a fielder's choice after UB couldn't complete a taylor-made double play that would have ended the inning.
• The Purple Knights put the first two on in the third, but Bilello got a line drive double play to end the inning unharmed.
• Kody Lewis brought in a run in the third with a single and put the Lions up 6-1. 
• The Purple Knights again got the leadoff man in the fourth. This time they cashed in as one batter later Christian Ortiz homered to right to cut the Lions lead in half, 6-3. 
• The inning continued and a sacrifice fly brought in another run for the Purple Knights. They loaded the bases with two outs, but Samir Lopez coaxed a ground ball to end the inning ahead, 6-4.
• Georgian Court tacked on more runs in the fourth. GCU put the first two on and Larry Rodriguez's single to center brought in Alex Elliott.
• Two batters later, Kody Lewis plated Sammy Cruz and the Lion lead stretched to 8-4. Bridgeport's defense let them down and back-to-back errors allowed another GCU run to score before UB finally ended the inning.
• Georgian Court threatened again in the sixth, but Bridgeport used some trickery to escape the jam. Carter Rieben flew out to center for the second out of the inning and Purple Knights successfully executed a hidden ball trick and tagged the runner on second for the third out.
• UB got a bit closer scoring a run on a GCU error, but left a runner stranded on third and the Lions still led by four, 9-5.
• The Purple Knights got the leadoff runner on in the ninth, but that was all and Georgian Court hung on for the four-run win.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Samir Lopez got the win throwing 3.1 innings in relief allowing just a hit and walking two.
• Sammy Cruz doubled twice, drove in two and scored twice.
• Kody Lewis picked up three hits and drove in two.
• Frank Marra was on base twice with a pair of singles.
• Larry Rodriguez drove in two, scored once and singled twice.

For the Purple Knights
• Jeremy Rodriguez was on base three times with two singles, a home run and three runs scored.
• Christian Oritz homered and drove in two runs.
• Dominick Weidtman threw two scoreless innings in relief.
• Anthony Armenia didn't have a hit but still drove in two.

Game 2 - Bridgeport 8, Georigan Court 4 - 8 Innings
How it Happened
• Georgian Court scored four runs on 14 hits, including plenty of infield singles.
• Bridgeport only collected five hits but made them count to score eight runs.
• The Lions left 12 runners on base and the Purple Knights three.
• Georgian Court put the ball in play, striking out just once and walking once.
• Anthony Ortega threw the first two innings scoreless. He got a great play out in left field from Tomas Tamargo to end the second.
• The Lions got runners on in each of the first three innings, but couldn't come up with the big hit to score a run.
• Bridgeport's first hit of the game brought in the first run. A lead off walk and stolen base set up Vin Mallon who singled to give the Purple Knights a 1-0 lead.
• They added two more in the inning on a sacrifice fly and a two-out pop fly single to go up 3-0.
• Georgian Court got two in scoring position in the fourth, but again a hit with a runner on eluded them and the Purple Knights were still up three going to the fifth.
• Bridgeport added to their lead in the fifth playing small ball. A walk, stolen base, balk and a safety squeeze produced a run and a 4-0 lead.
• The Lions finally cracked the scoreboard in the sixth. They played small ball with three bunt singles in the inning and a fielder's choice brought in two runs on heady baserunning from Larry Rodriguez as GCU cut the lead in half to 4-2.
• GCU's never say die attitude was present in the seventh. Sammy Cruz led off with a double and the first three reached base. A ground ball made it a 4-3 game before Kody Lewis tucked one inside the bag at third to score pinch runner Daniel Atiles with the tying run.
• Bridgeport did a lot of two-out damage in the eighth inning. They led off the inning with a walk and only reached third with two outs in the inning.
• The Purple Lights then connected for three straight run-scoring hits and before the Lions ended the inning, Bridgeport scored four times.
• GCU got a runner on in the bottom of the seventh, but no more and Bridgeport escaped with an 8-4 win. 

Lion Stat Leaders
• Jack Greenspan reached base in all three plate appearances with two singles and a walk.
• Oliver Santana had two hits including a double.
• Tomas Tamargo singled twice.
• Kody Lewis singled and drove in a pair.
• Anthony Ortega got the start and threw four innings allowing three runs with four strikeouts.
• Ely Houston allowed a run without giving up a hit in two innings and fanned a pair.

For the Purple Knights
• Alex Bulger started and went the first six innings allowing two runs on 10 hits with a strikeout.
• Vincenzo Bruno threw a scoreless eighth inning to secure the win.
• Tyler Pennisi singled, doubled and drove in three runs.
• Jeremy Rodrigues walked twice and scored. 

News and Notes
• This was the Lions first home win in program history.
• The last time Georgian Court played three full scoreless innings were the first two games of the season at Erskine. In all three games, the scoreless tie was broken in the fourth.
• In game one, Georgian Court's bullpen combined to allow just one unearned run in six innings.
• Georgian Court was 5-8 to lead off innings in game two and 7-11 with the bases empty. With runners in scoring position though, GCU was just 4-17. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court has a pair of single-game, midweek, non-conference games on deck. Up first is Mercy Tuesday, April 8 at 5 pm.