April 16, 2003
Box Score
FAIRFAX, VA ... George Mason got strong pitching performances from seniors Travis Hardman and Marcus Davis to lead the Patriots to a sweep of New York Tech, 5-2 and 6-2, in a non-conference college baseball doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Raymond H. "Hap" Spuhler Field.
George Mason (22-10) set a school record as it extended its winning streak to 11 games, breaking the mark of nine straight games set twice before (March 22-29, 1986, and April 17-25, 1993). Mason, which improved to 18-3 at home, also equaled the school record of 10 consecutive wins at Spuhler Field, tying the mark set from March 22-April 9, 1986.
In the first game, Hardman (3-1) allowed eight hits in six innings, walking one and striking out two, to pick up the victory and freshman Mike Puckli pitched a perfect seventh inning to record his first career save. In Game 2, Davis (2-1) pitched his first complete game of the season, allowing seven hits and one earned run in seven innings.
The Patriots got off to a strong start in the first game as they took a 4-0 lead after two innings. Junior Nick Shimer (2-3), the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week, had a two-run double to spark a three-run first inning, then senior Evan Howard (2-3) had a run-scoring single in the second. New York Tech would score twice in the top of the fifth, with sophomore Andrew Karkoulas (2-4) and junior Jelani Arnold (3-3) driving in runs, but Mason would add its final run in the bottom of the inning as junior Bruce Baldwin (2-3) doubled to score Howard.
In Game 2, the Bears got an unearned run in the top of the first as Karkoulas reached on an error and scored as junior Anthony St. George reached on a fielder's choice. The Patriots tied the score in the bottom of the inning as sophomore Chris Looze (who had hits in each game to extend his hitting streak to 14 games) had a run-scoring triple. New York Tech regained the lead at 2-1 in the third as freshman Mike MacMillan doubled with two outs and scored on a single by St. George, but Mason answered as Looze (2-3) hit a two-run homer, his ninth of the year. Junior Jeff Palumbo added another two-run blast, his second of the season, in the fourth and sophomore Jimmy Freund (2-3) had a run-scoring single to bring home the final run in the fifth. Shimer and Baldwin also added two hits in the second game.
Arnold was 5-6 in the two games to lead New York Tech at the plate, while sophomore Christian Diez added two hits in the first game. Junior Wayne Seder (1-4) went the distance on the mound in Game 1, allowing eight hits and four walks while striking out three in six innings, and sophomore Chris Perez (0-4) took the loss in the second game as he allowed 10 hits, walked three and fanned four in five innings.
George Mason travels to Delaware for a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series this weekend. The Patriots (7-1 in the CAA) and the Fightin' Blue Hens (2-6 CAA) meet at 3 p.m. Friday and at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at Bob Hannah Stadium.
