March 19, 2003
Box Score
FAIRFAX, VA ... Senior left-hander John Sterling pitched the first complete game of the season for George Mason as the Patriots defeated Maryland-Baltimore County, 6-3, in a non-conference college baseball game Wednesday afternoon at Raymond H. "Hap" Spuhler Field.
George Mason won for the fourth time in its last five games to improve to 8-7, while UMBC lost its fourth straight game to fall to 2-8.
Sterling (2-1) had his third straight strong outing as he allowed six hits, walked two and struck out six in going the distance. Over the past three games, Sterling has allowed 14 hits, six runs (four earned), walked two and struck out 23 in 25 2/3 innings for a 1.40 earned run average.
UMBC got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the fourth inning as senior Brad Glascock reached on a one-out walk, went to third on a double by senior Scott Kosmicky (2-4) and scored on a groundout by freshman Isaac Friedel. But Mason would answer with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning as sophomore Chris Looze was hit by pitch with one out, went to third on a double by junior Kyle Barrett (3-4) and scored on a wild pitch.
The Patriots took a 4-1 lead in the fifth as they scored three runs on just one hit. Freshman Nick Prosise and sophomore Matt Cooksey walked and junior Jeff Palumbo was hit by pitch to load the bases with one out, then junior Bruce Baldwin's deep fly to center field was dropped as Prosise scored on a sacrifice fly. Looze followed with another sacrifice fly and Barrett singled to drive in the third run.
The Retrievers got a run back in the sixth as senior Chris Yetter hit a two-out single, but senior Evan Howard pushed Mason's lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the inning as he connected for his third home run, a two-run shot to left. UMBC added its final run in the eighth as junior Chris Becraft (2-4) reached on an error, went to third on another error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Friedel. Sophomore Eric Butkiewicz (1-3) took the loss for the Retrievers, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits while walking two and striking out three in 4 1/3 innings.
George Mason hosts Cleveland State this weekend in a three-game series. The Patriots and Vikings meet Friday at 2:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m.
