April 21, 2007
Box Score
The George Mason baseball team once again scored runs late in the game and once again held off a ninth-inning rally from Chicago State as the Patriots downed the Cougars 5-3 in non-conference action at Spuhler Field. Mason scored twice in the sixth and twice in the eighth to win for the sixth time in the past eight games.
Chris Fournier was 3 for 4 on the day with two runs scored, Chris Romanow was 1 for 1 with two RBI and Dan Palumbo was 3 for 4 as well. Dan Jaycox allowed just one earned run in seven innings but earned a no-decision.
In the bottom of the first, Mason put runners on second and third with one out but stranded the pair. That allowed the Cougars to score first behind Bryan Packard's second-inning solo homer to left, his first four-bagger of the year. In the fourth, Chicago State added an unearned run when Luke Grow singled, went to third on a grounder that was mishandled by the pitcher and scored on a fielder's choice.
Mason finally got on the board in the fifth. Jason Bour led off with a single and was replaced on the basepaths by Mike Laird who reached on a fielder's choice. Laird went to third on a Dan Palumbo single and scored on a Brent Weiss bunt single to make it 2-1. In the sixth, Mason took the lead as Chris Fournier led off with a single and scored on a Scott Krieger double. After Justin Bour walked and Jason Bour advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt, Krieger gave Mason a 3-2 lead on Chris Romanow's sacrifice fly.
Chicago State tied the game in the eighth when reliever T.J. O'Grady walked Alex Hall and Luke Grow to lead off the inning. He gave way to Kris Mengle who got a pair of outs on sacrifice bunts that scored Hall to make it 3-3. Mengle struck out Packard to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Mason took the lead for good. Chris Fournier led off with a double and Scott Krieger was hit by a pitch. Justin Bour then flew out to right and Fournier tagged on the play. The Cougars tried to catch Fournier but the cutoff throw from shortstop Hall was high and Fournier came home on the play. With Krieger at second with two outs, Romanow singled to right to give Mason a 5-3 edge.
The Patriots and Cougars will conclude the three-game series on Sunday when the teams play at Noon.
