April 15, 2005
Box Score
The George Mason baseball team snapped a three-game Colonial Athletic Association losing streak on Friday behind a six-run sixth inning as the Patriots defeated Hofstra 9-5 in the opening game of a three-game series at Spuhler Field in Fairfax. Matt York was 3 for 5 and Robby Jacobsen drove in three runs with his sixth home run of the season as starter Eric Gibbons picked up his fourth win of the year.
Mason trailed early and struggled at the plate as Hofstra took a 1-0 lead in the third behind a Josh Stewart triple and Ricky Caputo RBI single. The Patriots got the run back in the bottom of the frame when Matt York led off with a single and Matt Cooksey, Chris Looze and Casey Slattery followed with walks to make it 1-1. But Hofstra starter David Huth escaped the inning behind a fielder's choice, a strikeout and a fly out. Hofstra made it 3-1 in the fourth as David Cole hit a two-run homer to score Josh Stern, who had walked earlier in the inning.
Mason cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Tyler Youngs singled, York doubled and Cooksey's infield squibber brought Youngs home. But Hofstra once again made it a two-run lead when Stewart doubled in the fifth, went to third on a throwing error by Youngs and scored on a Matt Kougasian single.
The Patriots put themselves in the driver's seat in the sixth when Chris Fournier led off the inning with a single and Adam Innerst followed with a hit to center. Youngs reached on a throwing error when Huth threw Youngs' sacrifice bunt attempt into right field. That error allowed Fournier to score to make it 4-3. Innerst went to third and Youngs to second on the play and York singled to center to drive them both home and give Mason a 5-4 lead. After Cooksey and Looze flew out, Slattery singled and Jacobsen homered to make it 8-4.
Hofstra got a run back in the eighth when Cooksey couldn't hold onto Caputo's flyball to lead off the inning with Caputo going to third on the play. He scored on a ground out by Kougasian. Mason added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as Jacobsen hit a one-out double and Matt Barrett and Fournier followed with walks to load the bases. After Innerst struck out, Youngs walked to score a run and chase reliever Mike Xydias. Jeff Denlea entered the game for the Pride and he induced Matt York to groundout to end the threat.
Eric Gibbons went eight innings for Mason, allowing three earned runs on eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts. He threw 100 pitches in improving to 4-2 on the year. Phil Stone pitched a hitless ninth to stem off any Hofstra rally. Huth took the loss, falling to 1-4. He allowed four earned runs on nine hits with five walks and three strikeouts while pitching five and two-third innings.
The two teams continue their three-games series when they face off on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Spuhler Field.
