BETHESDA, Md. (Interstat) — Georgetown plated four runs in the first inning and rode strong pitching to a 5-1 victory over Seton Hall on Thursday night at Shirley Povich Field, opening the three-game Big East series.

The Hoyas improved to 27-27 overall. The Pirates dropped to 15-29.

Seton Hall struck first in the top of the first. Aiden Dill led off with a ground-rule double, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Ryan Frontera’s sacrifice fly to right field. The Pirates managed only one more run the rest of the night.

Georgetown answered immediately in the bottom half. Connor Peek walked, stole second and moved to third on a walk to Dylan Larkins. Jeremy Sheffield walked to load the bases with two outs. Ashtin Gilio cleared the bases with a double to right-center, scoring three runs. Connor Price followed with an RBI single to give Georgetown a 4-1 lead.

The Hoyas added to their lead in the second. Travis Ilitch walked and advanced to third on a fielding error by Seton Hall second baseman Dominic Trolio. Peek then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Ilitch and making it 5-1.

Georgetown starter Kai Leckszas earned the win, allowing one run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings with two strikeouts and three walks. The left-hander worked out of a jam in the fifth when the Pirates loaded the bases with one out. Leckszas induced a flyout from Nick Tomasetto to end the threat. Griffin O’Connor followed with 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, scattering four hits and striking out three.

Seton Hall starter Derek Benzinger lasted two innings, giving up five runs, four earned, on one hit and four walks with one strikeout. Jayden Barroqueiro replaced him to start the third and pitched five hitless innings, striking out six and walking one. Stephen Curry added a perfect eighth inning for the Pirates.

The Pirates stranded eight runners, including two in the third and two in the eighth. In the top of the eighth, Seton Hall loaded the bases with two outs, but Joe Marini struck out swinging to end the inning.

Frontera finished 2 for 4 with an RBI for Seton Hall. Dill had a double and a run scored. Frankie Scravanic doubled in the fourth but was left on base. Magnus Krieger and Nick Tomasetto each had two hits for the Pirates.

For Georgetown, Gilio went 1 for 2 with three RBIs and a walk. Peek was 1 for 2 with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI. The Hoyas collected seven hits and drew seven walks.

The game was the first of a three-game series between the two teams, who meet again Friday and Saturday at Shirley Povich Field.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Georgetown 4, Seton Hall 2. Interstat’s ELO system gave Georgetown a 53.60 percent probability to win.