May 15, 2003
Box Score
FAIRFAX, VA ... Freshman Robby Jacobsen's two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning provided the winning runs as George Mason defeated Liberty, 4-2, in a non-conference college baseball game Thursday afternoon at Raymond H. "Hap" Spuhler Field.
George Mason, playing for the first time in 10 days after an exam break, snapped a three-game losing streak as it improved to 28-18, while Liberty dropped its sixth straight contest to fall to 14-34.
The game was halted twice by rain, first with a one-hour, 18-minute delay in the top of the seventh inning and again for good before the start of the bottom of the eighth. Because the game could not be continued after the second stoppage due to excessive rain and darkness, Liberty's three-run eighth inning (which gave it a 5-4 lead) was wiped off the books due to the rule of baseball that says all halted games revert to the last complete full inning.
The victory extended George Mason's school-record home win streak to 12 games and lifted its record at Spuhler Field to 20-3 this season. The 20 wins ties the Patriot record for wins at home set by the 1987 team with a 20-6 mark.
The Patriots opened the scoring with a run without a hit in the bottom of the first inning as sophomore Matt Cooksey walked, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout. Liberty tied the score in the top of the third as freshman Derek Cantrell hit a one-out single, went to third on a double by senior Larry Wayne York (extending his hitting streak to 23 games) and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Jeremiah Boles.
The Flames took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth as Boles led off with a single, stole second and scored on a double by senior Chad Bryan (2-3). But George Mason rallied with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take the 4-2 lead that proved to be the winning margin. Cooksey led off with a walk before being forced at second on a grounder by junior Jeff Palumbo, then Palumbo moved to second on a single by junior Bruce Baldwin. One out later, both runners advanced on a wild pitch before junior Nick Shimer drew a walk to load the bases and senior Evan Howard was hit by pitch to force in a run to tie the score. Jacobsen then followed with a single up the middle to bring home the final two runs.
Senior Marcus Davis (4-1) pitched six solid innings to pick up the victory, allowing seven hits while walking one and striking out three, and freshman Mike Puckli pitched a perfect seventh inning to gain his second save. Freshman Jon Banke (0-7) was the tough-luck loser as he allowed just three hits in six innings, walking four and striking out a career-high 10 batters.
George Mason hosts William & Mary this weekend as it concludes its Colonial Athletic Association and overall regular season with a three-game series. The Patriots (9-8 in the CAA) and the Tribe (30-18, 12-4 CAA) meet at 3 p.m. Friday, at 2 p.m. Saturday and at 1 p.m. Sunday.
