March 28, 2003

Box Score

NORFOLK, VA. - Firstbaseman Chris Looze's one-out homerun in the top of the 11th inning lifted the Patriots of George Mason to a 5-4 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Old Dominion Friday night at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex. ODU pitchers Justin Verlander and Jason Godin combined to fan a school-record 19 batters.

Old Dominion took a 4-1 lead into the top of the eighth. The Monarchs scored three in the first as Evan Chipman scored on a bases loaded wild pitch and CAA Player of the Week John Oehler singled home Derek James and Brent Sollenberger. Chipman singled home Brandon Le Noir in the second inning.

The Patriots scored in the third as Bruce Baldwin doubled home Andrew Buffington. With one out in the eighth George Mason rallied to tie the game at four. Nick Shimer reached on an error, then Nick Prosise walked. With two outs Evan Howard singled Shimer home, and Andrew Buffington then doubled home Howard and Prosise. It was Buffington's first hit of the season in four at bats.

Justin Verlander pitched eight innings fanning 15, while losing pitcher Jason Godin fanned four. For George Mason, Chris Murray who gave up four runs in the first two innings, settled down and retired ODU in order from the third to the ninth innings. Stacen Gant picked up his second win of the season.

Brent Sollenberger led ODU with three hits, while Bruce Baldwin, Adam Innerst and Evan Howard each had two hits for George Mason. The teams play game two of the series on Saturday at 5 p.m.

LINE SCORE
GMU   001 000 030 01 = 5-10-0
ODU   310 000 000 00 = 4-9-2
GMU Battery: Murray, Gant(10) and Prosise
ODU Battery: Verlander, Godin(9) and Oehler
WP: Gant(2-0) LP: Godin(1-1) HR:-GMU by Looze(3)