May 11, 2004
A slew of national rankings and standings were released on Monday and the George Mason baseball team found its name in several important spots as they Patriots prepare for the final seven regular-season games before the CAA Tournament begins on May 26.
For the third straight week the Patriots received votes in a national poll, once again receiving recognition in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's top 35. It is the second straight week the Patriots received votes in that poll. Two weeks ago, the Sports Weekly/Top 25 poll found the Patriots receiving a vote.
George Mason also climbed to 60 in the RPI, an important indicator of their potential for receiving an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, should the Patriots fail to secure the automatic bid that comes with winning the CAA Tournament. The CAA is 12th in the conference RPI standings and the Patriots are the highest rated CAA team.
As a team, the Patriots are eighth in the nation in scoring, with 9.0 runs per game, through May 9. Mason is also 11th in the nation in batting average (.328), 29th in win-loss percentage (.705), 36th in ERA (3.87) and 74th in fielding percentage (.964)
Five Patriots are among the national leaders in various statistical categories, le by Nick Shimer who is among the top 15 in three categories. Shimer is 12th in the nation in home runs per game (.36), 13th in slugging percentage (.763) and 15th in runs per game (1.3). Two Patriots are among the top 10 in a statistical category with Jeff Palumbo leading the way in runs per game. His 1.41 average is second in the nation, trailing just Keith Stegbauer of Central Connecticut State, who is scoring 1.5 per game. Chris Looze is also among the top 10 as he is sixth in the nation in RBI per game with 1.43. Looze was named the CAA and ECAC Player of the Week for the week-ending May 2. Teammate Adam Innerst is 19th in RBI per game with 1.3.
Stacen Gant is representing the Patriots in the pitching department. He is currently tied for 12th in the nation in wins with nine. He has had two potential wins surrendered by the bullpen this year, and he would be tied for second in the nation if those wins had been secured. Gant is also 13th in the nation with a 1.84 ERA. He is one of just six pitchers in the country to be among the top 15 in ERA and victories.
The Patriots will host Delaware this weekend in their final three home games of the season. Game times are set for Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. It will be the final chance for fans to catch seniors Bruce Baldwin, Kyle Barrett, Jeff Palumbo and Nick Shimer playing at Spuhler Field.
