March 6, 2007
Box Score
Freshman Justin Bour had the single greatest offensive day in Mason school history and Mason scored its most runs since April 14, 1998 when it had 32 against Coppin State as the Patriots defeated Coppin State 28-1. Bour became the first Patriot to hit two grand slams in the same game and his nine RBI broke the school record of eight which was set by Greg Filson in 1999, tied by Jeff Palumbo in 2003 and matched by Scott Krieger just 10 days ago. Bour also became just the second Patriot with three home runs in a game, tying Nick Shimer's record that was set on April 16, 2004.
Justin Bour entered the game batting .273 with one home run, seven RBI and a .424 slugging percentage. When the game ended, he was batting .351 with four homers, 16 RBI and a .757 slugging percentage. He was 4 for 4 on the day with a double in addition to his homers. Mason (5-5) has now won three straight and has scored in double figures in four straight games while Coppin State (0-8) remains winless. The Eagles have now been outscored 145-10 this season. Every Mason starter had a hit and with a double and a triple, Chris Fournier extended his hitting to streak having now batted safely in all 10 games. Chris Romanow has hit in eight straight as well.
In the top of the first, Coppin State scored first as Marcus Robin walked, Sebastian Fomenko bunted him to second, Robin went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Harry Williams' bloop single behind short. The Patriots countered in the bottom of the first as Brent Weiss singled to center, Fournier doubled off the left field wall, Scott Krieger walked and Bour hit his first grand slam, just clearing the fence in right field.
Mason added to the lead in the second when Weiss hit a one-out single to center, stole second and scored on a Fournier triple. Krieger's sacrifice fly brought Fournier home and Bour followed with a home run to dead center. Jack Zeltner made his collegiate debut in relief in the top of the third replacing Rosenberg, and after allowing a bunt single, he got a double-play ground ball and a strikeout looking to end the Eagles' half of the inning. Mason didn't go as quietly in its half of the third as Chris Romanow led off with a single to right, Chris Henderson followed with a double to center and consecutive wild pitches brought both runners home for a 9-1 Mason lead.
Dan Palumbo followed with what was essentially a leadoff walk and Mark Hill's first collegiate hit put runners on second and third for pinch-hitter Ryan Uphouse. Uphouse doubled to left center to plate the two runners and the Patriots found themselves ahead by 10. Krieger made it a dozen with his homer to left field, giving him a home run in three straight games. After a Coppin State pitching change, Justin Bour doubled to center and Jason Bour homered to left field for a 15-1 Mason lead.
In the fourth, Palumbo, Hill and Mike Laird all drew walks and Aaron Tenney followed with his first collegiate hit, an infield single that brought Palumbo home. Justin Bour then followed with his historic second grand slam, making it 20-1. In the top of the fifth, Benji Kagan made his Mason debut, striking out the side while giving up a hit in the process. In the bottom of the fifth, Palumbo had a one-out double and back-to-back fielding errors allowed Palumbo to score and put runners on the corners. Laird reached on a fielder's choice that scored Hill and Mason had a 22-1 lead. Kagan struck out two more in the sixth to give him five in his two-inning stint.
The sixth saw Mason fail to score in an inning for the first time in the game. In the top of the seventh, Bryan Wade made his collegiate debut allowing a walk and a hit by getting his first strikeout as well. In the bottom of the seventh, Palumbo was hit by a pitch, went to second on a balk, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Hill sacrifice fly. Uphouse and Laird followed with singles, advanced on a wild pitch and both scored on Wade's single to center.
After Wade struck out a pair in the eighth, Mason added more runs as Josh Steinberg walked to lead off the frame and Henderson hit his first collegiate homer, depositing the ball just over the centerfield fence. With one out, Hill doubled and after a Laird single, Tenney singled to make it 28-1. Mason loaded the bases when pinch-hitter J.J. Pannell was hit by a pitch by Brecko flew out to left to end the threat. Darren McLean pitched a scoreless ninth for Mason.
After the game, Scott Krieger got word that he had been named CAA Player of the Week for his effort in a three-game series against William & Mary. Krieger batted .533 (8 for 15) with a double, two homers, four runs and six RBI. The sophomore leftfielder was 3 for 4 with a homer and four RBI on Friday, 3 for 5 in an 11-5 win on Saturday and 2 for 6 with a game-tying eighth-inning homer on Sunday in Mason's 10-9 victory.
Mason returns to action on Wednesday when the Patriots travel to George Washington for a 2 p.m. game, weather permitting.
