April 9, 2006

Box Score

Newark, Del. - The George Mason baseball team split a pair of 3-1 decisions with the University of Delaware in a Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.

Matt Heppner allowed six hits and one run while striking out eight in a seven-inning complete game for the Blue Hens in game one, while in game two Patriots pitchers Dan Jaycox and J.J. Pannell combined to allow only two hits and struck out 12 Delaware batters on their way to victory.

The Blue Hens (15-13, 4-8 CAA) trailed 1-0 in the fourth inning of the first game when freshman Alex Buccholz drove his team-leading 12th home run of the season over the left field fence to tie the game. Delaware took a 2-1 lead in the next inning on Ryan Engelhardt's solo home run with one out.

In the top of the sixth, the Patriots (11-18, 6-8 CAA) threatened to draw even. Following a double by Mason third baseman Matt York, the Patriots had runners at first and third with only one out. Heppner then reached back and struck out the next two batters to end the threat and maintain the Delaware advantage. The Hens added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning to reach the final score.

In the first inning of game two the Patriots took a 1-0 lead on another double by York, which scored Spencer Wiggins all the way from first base. The Hens tied the game in the bottom of the second by manufacturing a run. Brandon Menchaca walked to leadoff the inning, reached second on a groundout, stole third base, and then scored on a single by Bill Merkler.

The game settled in as a pitcher's duel thereafter, with Mason's Jaycox and Delaware's Evan Bowen holding down their respective opposition. Bowen struck out five and allowed six hits in seven innings, while Jaycox fanned 10 Delaware batters and allowed two hits in his seven innings.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the top of the ninth, the Patriots were able to put together the most consistent rally of the day for either team. Ryan Uphouse singled up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Taylor Youngs then doubled inches inside the line in right field, scoring Uphouse with the go-ahead run. With two on and two out, Wiggins' bloop single behind third base scored Youngs with Mason's third run of the game.

J.J. Pannell did not allow a hit in two innings of relief to pick up his first win of the season for the Patriots, while Chad Kerfoot took the loss to drop to 1-4.