May 28, 2005

Box Score

May 27, 2005

Box Score

The George Mason baseball team was in control for much of its game with Virginia Commonwealth. That changed in the late innings as the Rams were able to battle back and score the game-winning runs in the ninth to end the Patriots' season as Mason fell to VCU 5-3 in the six-team double-elimination Colonial Athletic Association Tournament at Wilmington, N.C.

Mason, which was last in the CAA in fielding in the regular season made a critical error in the ninth as left fielder Adam Innerst called off shortstop Tyler Youngs on a pop up to shallow left field but he failed to catch the ball allowing Trai Harris and Kwan Evans to score. The Patriots went quietly in the ninth.

The Patriots had led 3-1 after two innings but reliever Mick Mattaliano (3-2) came in and shut Mason down, pitching the final six innings and allowing just four hits as the Patriots were worn out from playing their third game in 27 hours. The Patriots had lost to VCU on Thursday night, 8-3, but came back to defeat UNC Wilmington, the tournament's top seed, 9-7 on Friday afternoon.

For the Patriots, the season was a success in the wins column but came up short of their yearly goal of winning the CAA Tournament. The Patriots last won the CAA crown in 1992.

The Rams (32-20) struck first in the contest as Sergio Miranda had a one-out first-inning single up the middle, Scott Sizemore walked and Tim St. Clair singled to score Miranda. After that Morrison settled down, retiring 11 straight batters and allowing Mason to settle down.

The Patriots (35-19) didn't waste time responding as Matt Cooksey walked to lead off the first, went all the way to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Chris Fournier. In the second, the Patriots took their first lead of the game as Matt York singled with one out and scored on a Jimmy Freund double to right. Freund scored on a Cooksey triple to right which was nearly an inside-the-park home run.

The Patriots had scoring opportunities in the next three innings but were unable to capitalize on any of them. In the third, Adam Innerst hit a one-out double but was stranded at second. In the fourth, York had a leadoff single, but was erased on a double play. In the fifth, Matt Cooksey was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, went to second on an error and third on a one-out wild pitch but was stranded.

The Rams got back on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth when Sizemore walked to lead off the inning and St. Clair singled to put runners on the corners and no outs. Barrett Ripley reached on a fielder's choice that erased St. Clair but scored Sizemore to make it 3-2. Morrison pitched out of trouble, though, as Pete Farina struck out and Trai Harris grounded out to short.

Virginia Commonwealth tied the game in the seventh when Alex Gary drew a leadoff walk, stole second, went to third on a balk and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Kwan Evans.

Mason threatened to retake the lead in the bottom of the seventh when Jimmy Freund led off with a single and Cooksey sacrificed him to second. But Fournier struck out looking and after Chris Looze was intentionally walked, Adam Innerst grounded out to second to end the inning.

Mason also had a chance in the eighth when Casey Slattery led off the inning with a single up the middle. Josh Campbell pinch ran and he went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Robby Jacobsen. York was then intentionally walked but Tyler Youngs flew out to center and Jimmy Freund grounded out to second to end the inning.

In the ninth, Harris led off with a single to third base, went to second on a sacrifice by Gary, and after Evans was walked, he scored the go-ahead run on a Miranda pop up.

Innerst had a chance to atone for his error in the ninth when he came up with two outs but he was unable to drive home Looze who had doubled in front of him.

Mason starter Josh Morrison went seven innings allowing three runs on five hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts. Tyler Wingerd came on in relief and he took the loss, despite not allowing an earned run. Wingerd (3-2) surrendered two hits and one walk in two innings of work. He struck out one and allowed those two unearned runs

Marcus Davis started for the Rams going just three innings. He allowed three runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts.