Feb. 17, 2007

Box Score

Clemson, S.C. - The George Mason baseball team took an historic win on Saturday afternoon as the Patriots, fresh off a 14-0 loss in the season opener, rebounded to beat the nation's top team, beating #1 Clemson, 5-1. It is Mason's first-ever win over a No. 1 team.

"This is the biggest win in school history," said George Mason head coach Bill Brown, in his 26th season as the Patriot head coach. "Any time you beat the No. 1 team in the country, it's got to be."

Mason's pitching rebounded from Friday's poor outing by allowing just two hits. Meanwhile, Mason pounded out nine hits, including a three-run homer from Jason Bour that broke the game open. The Patriots scored runs in the sixth and the seventh and also threatened to score in three other innings.

Mason scored four times in the sixth to rally from a 1-0 deficit. Chris Fournier led off the inning with a double and scored on a Chris Romanow double. After Scott Krieger walked and Justin Bour flied out, Jason Bour followed with a home run down the right field line. Mason added an insurance run in the seventh. Brent Weiss singled, made his way to second on a fielder's choice, went to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

Meanwhile, Mason pitching was keeping Clemson from mounting any rally. Starter Mike Modica allowed just one hit in six innings, walking four and striking out three. Jason Koziol in his Mason debut allowed no hits in two innings while Jordan Flasher pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing just one hit.

The Tigers' lone run came in the fourth when Brad Chalk walked, went to third on a Taylor Harbin double and scored on an Andy D'Alesio sacrifice fly. Clemson wouldn't manage another hit until one out in the ninth.

The Patriots' first scoring opportunity came in the third when Ryan Uphouse singled and went to third on a Spencer Wiggins single. Uphouse was thrown out at home trying to score on a wild pitch. In the fifth, Chris Henderson led off with a single, went to second on a wild pitch and later advanced on a fielding error before a double play ended the inning. In the ninth, Brent Weiss singled, went to second on a wild pitch and went to third on a ground out before Fournier grounded out to end the inning.

Mason last beat a ranked team on March 9, 2004, when Mason took a 5-2 win over No. 23 North Carolina State. Stacen Gant got the win in that contest. The Patriots last beat an ACC school on March 7, 2005 when Mason beat Virginia Tech, 2-0. Josh Morrison threw a complete-game two-hitter in that contest.

The two teams will meet again on Sunday at Noon. Mason sends freshman Ryan Brecko to the mound while Clemson counters with sophomore Ryan Hinson.