April 16, 2004
Box Score
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (www.hofstra.edu) - Patriots third baseman Nick Shimer went 3-for-5, slamming three home runs, as the George Mason Patriots defeated the Hofstra Pride, 10-3, Friday afternoon, in a Colonial Athletic Association game at University Field. The win propels George Mason (22-10, 9-1 CAA) to their league-leading ninth victory, and drops Hofstra (10-18, 3-7 CAA) to their seventh loss.
Both teams got on the board in the fourth inning. Patriots third baseman Nick Shimer reached base on an error, and scored when designated hitter Kyle Barrett singled. Catcher Robby Jacobsen also singled, and scored later when second baseman Jimmy Freund singled down the right field line. Hofstra scored their two runs in the inning when first baseman Mike Walsh doubled down the left field line, and scored when right fielder George Athanasopoulos singled down the right field line. Catcher Steve Oliveri hit a sacrifice fly to score Athanasopoulos, who reached third on a Ricky Caputo double.
George Mason put three runs on the board in the fifth as right fielder Bruce Baldwin and left fielder Adam Innerst both singled, and Shimer hit his 11th home run of the season and first of the day, a three-run shot to left field.
Hofstra answered in the fifth as center fielder Josh Stewart slammed a triple to right, and then scored on a wild pitch by Patriots starter Eric Gibbons.
The Patriots added to their lead in the eight and ninth as they put up five more runs. In the eighth, Shimer hit his second homerun of the day and 12th of the season, a solo shot to left center. After Barrett walked, he was lifted for a pinch-runner, Josh Campbell. Campbell then scored when center fielder Matt Cooksey doubled down the right field line off reliever Ryan Dunn. In the ninth, Innerst singled up the middle and scored when Shimer hit his third home run of the day and 13th of the season, to left center. Jacobsen reached base on an error, and then scored later when Freund singled through the right side.
Patriots starter Eric Gibbons (5-3) earned the win, pitching eight innings, scattering nine hits, allowing three runs, while striking out four. David Huth (2-4) takes the loss for the Pride, pitching 7.1 innings, allowing seven runs, nine hits, and striking out four.
These two teams will meet tomorrow in game two of this Colonial Athletic Association series at 2 p.m. at University Field.
