Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

Charleston, S.C. - Scott Krieger tied a school-record for RBI in a game and Mason scored its most runs since April 27, 2005 as the Patriots took a 22-8 win over Charleston Southern on Saturday. Krieger was 5 for 5 with two home runs and eight RBI as Mason scored nine runs in the fourth and seventh in the sixth while pounding out 23 hits. J.J. Pannell picked up the win.

The Patriots scored in their first at-bat when Chris Fournier singled, stole second and after a Chris Romanow single, scored on a Krieger base hit. The Buccaneers came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning and the score stood 2-1 until the fourth.

Krieger led off the inning with a homer and after Justin Bour and Jason Bour followed with singles, Chris Henderson's bunt hit loaded the bases. Ryan Uphouse reached on an error to score Justin Bour and Dan Palumbo's single brought home Jason Bour. After Brent Weiss fouled out, Fournier drove home two with a single up the middle. After a Romanow fielder's choice left runners on the corners, Krieger hit his second home run of the inning, making it 9-2. Justin Bour followed with a homer to cap the inning's scoring.

The Buccaneers trimmed the lead to 10-4 in the bottom of the frame but Mason got those runs back in the fifth when Weiss doubled and scored on a Krieger single. Chris Romanow, who walked, later scored on a bases-loaded walk by Jason Bour.

In the sixth, the Patriots ended the suspense of whether Charleston Southern could come back. After two quick outs, Weiss singled, Fournier and Romanow walked and Krieger singled to make it 14-4. Justin Bour, Jason Bour , Chris Henderson, Ryan Uphouse and Dan Palumbo followed with RBI singles to make it 19-4.

With the large lead, Pannell was left in the game to get outs, and he went six innings, surrendering eight runs on 13 hits and one walk. He did strike out five on 110 pitches. Trevor Rosenberg earned the first save of his career, allowing three hits and no runs in three innings.

Mason added two runs in the seventh when Justin Bour singled to drive home Fournier and Aaron Tenney, as both walked earlier in the inning. In the ninth, Mason scored the game's final run as Fournier and Josh Steinberg were hit by pitches, Tenney walked and Justin Bour reached on a fielder's choice to plate Fournier.

Krieger's eight RBI tied the record set by Greg Filson against Coppin State on April 22, 1999 and later tied by current assistant coach Jeff Palumbo against Towson on May 22, 2003. His five hits also tied a school record which has been reached 15 times, last by Chris Looze against Georgetown on April 26, 2005. Justin Bour was 4 for 6 with five RBI, Jason Bour was 3 for 4 with two RBI and Palumbo was 3 for 6 with two RBI. Also with multiple hits were Henderson, who was 2 for 5, Weiss, who was 2 for 5, and Fournier, who was 2 for 4 with two steals.

The Patriots will take the field next against College of Charleston. Mason will start Ryan Brecko against the Cougars. Game-time is set for Noon, up an hour from the original game time of 1 p.m. to account for expected bad weather.