April 13, 2003
Box Score
FAIRFAX, VA ... Junior Nick Shimer had three hits and junior Bruce Baldwin added two hits and three runs batted in to lead George Mason past Hofstra, 8-6, in a Colonial Athletic Association baseball game Sunday at Raymond H. "Hap" Spuhler Field.
George Mason has won nine straight games and 16 of its last 20 contests as it improved to 20-10 overall, 7-1 in the CAA. Hofstra saw its losing streak extend to five games as it fell to 5-22 overall, 2-7 in the CAA.
The nine-game win streak ties George Mason's school record, which has been accomplished twice before (March 22-29, 1986, and April 17-25, 1993). The Patriots have scored in double figures in nine of their last 14 games, and they have scored 106 runs and pounded out 117 hits in their last nine contests. Mason also improved to 16-3 at Spuhler Field this season, and its eight-game home win streak is two short of the Patriot record of 10 from March 22-April 9, 1986.
Hofstra got off to a strong start in the top of the first inning as junior Mike Perullo's two-run single gave the Pride a 2-0 lead. But Mason fought back to score two unearned runs off a Baldwin double (the second scored on an error) in the third to tie the score, then the Patriots took a 4-2 lead in the sixth as sophomores Jimmy Freund and Matt Cooksey had run-scoring hits.
Sophomore Chris Looze and Shimer hit back-to-back home runs, the eighth of the year for Looze and the third for Shimer, in the seventh to push the margin to 6-3, and Baldwin had a two-run single in the eighth for what proved to be key insurance runs. Hofstra got a three-run home run from sophomore Josh Stewart (2-4, 4 RBI) in the top of the ninth and had two on when the game ended.
Senior John Sterling (5-2) picked up the win as he allowed nine hits and six runs in 8 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out three. Freshman Eric Gibbons came on to record the last out for his first career save. Looze's home run in the seventh extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
Freshman Kellen Taylor (0-5) pitched well for the Pride before tiring down the stretch. He took the loss as he allowed nine hits and six runs (four earned), walked three and struck out one in seven innings. Freshman Ricky Caputo was 3-3 to lead the Hofstra offense, and senior Tom Brown added two hits.
George Mason hosts New York Tech in a doubleheader Wednesday at 1 p.m.
