Bishop Guertin's Josh Wilson (left) and Tyler Parks leave the field disappointed while Pinkerton celebrates following Hunter Brasier's walk-off hit int the bottom of the seventh inn for a 3-2 victory in Sunday Division I quarterfinals. (Photo by Dan Doyon)

DERRY – Behind starting pitcher Ben Geiger, the Bishop Guertin High School baseball team was on the brink of pulling off a major upset against undefeated defending Division I champion Pinkerton Academy in Sunday afternoon’s quarterfinal.

Unfortunately, finishing off the Astros proved once again to be a difficult task.

Top-seeded Pinkerton rallied for two runs to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning and walked-off the game on Hunter Brasier’s two-out hit with the bases loaded in the seventh to complete a 3-2 comeback victory over No. 9 Bishop Guertin.

“It’s a great group of guys, a great group of kids and they just keep competing and keep competing,” Bishop Guertin coach Scott Painter said. “We played really well today. They’ve learned to compete and this is obviously the highest competition and it was a 3-2 loss to the best team in the state.”

Pinkerton (20-0) moves onto play No. 5 Exeter (16-5) in Wednesday’s semifinals at Holman Stadium in Nashua. The Blue Hawks advanced with Saturday’s 16-8 win over Trinity (17-4).

“We played hard the whole time and BG played phenomenal. They came out ready to go and they have a fantastic ballclub,” Pinkerton coach Stephen Campo said. “This is one of those games where it’s too bad that two teams can’t walk away with the W. I’m proud of my guys for fighting the way they did and just keep grinding through.”

Bishop Guertin (12-10) chased Division I Pitcher of the Year Mike Cioffi from the game early after a pair of errors were followed by an RBI double from Josh Wilson and an RBI single by Liam Ireland to give a 2-0 lead in the top of the second.

Brasier relieved Cioffi and gave up his only hit to Jordy DeLude to lead off the third. Brasier struck out four in his five inning stint and the Cardinals couldn’t retain their offensive start.

“That’s why we moved Hunter to the bullpen for the playoffs,” Campo said. “He did it last year against North (in the semifinals) and against Exeter in the championship game. He has that mindset to come in and shut down.”

Geiger held Pinkerton to one hit through five innings before Leo Boucher led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and Brendan Horne followed with a double.

“That’s what he has given us all year,” Painter said. “He threw 26 pitches in the first inning and he battled down and threw strikes when they were needed.”

With the bases now loaded following a walk to John Hanlon, the Cardinals were on the wrong end of a controversial call as Ireland dove to catch a sacrifice fly by Brasier. Hanlon then moved to second base despite not tagging up according to the Bishop Guertin bench. Anthony Caruso followed with an RBI infield single to tie the game at 2-2. Bishop Guertin escaped further damage on fantastic catches by Wilson in left field and right fielder Ethan Drouin.

“The team played great and they deserved a better outcome from our perspective,” Painter said. “Not one of the three umpires were watching first base and that cost us a run. As sad as that is, that’s how we lose the game.”

Bishop Guertin shorstop Gavin Santos receives a throw from first baseman Nick Wyner (9) during a run down and tagged out Pinkerton’s Hunter Brasier during a run down in the fourth inning of of Sunday’s 3-2 loss in the Division I quarterfinals. (Photo by Dan Doyon)

After Ireland walked and Nick Wagner reached on a fielder’s choice to begin the seventh, DeLunde’s bunt attempt was popped up to Brasier. Pinkerton catcher Hayden Marshall then chased down a foul ball off Tyler Parks’ bat and then gunned down tagging Ireland at third base for the inning ending double play.

Geiger was chased out of the game following Matt Hanna’s double with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Following a fielder’s choice and a pair of walks to load the bases, Brasier ended the game with a line drive up the middle.

“Give credit to their guys they hit when they needed to there at the end,” Painter said.