May 23, 2008

Box Score

Wilmington, N.C. - Dan Jaycox is the lone senior on the 2008 George Mason baseball team and he took the mound on Friday afternoon needing a win over top-seeded UNC Wilmington in order to extend his career. For the second-straight season, Jaycox helped Mason stave off elimination in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament as the third-seeded Patriots beat nationally-ranked UNCW, 14-9 at Brooks Field in Wilmington, N.C.

Jaycox earned the win for Mason against the Seahawks three weeks ago and this time, facing a team ranked No. 28 in the country, Jaycox (3-4) gave the Patriots five and two-third strong innings before leaving the game in the hands of the bullpen. They came through and Jaycox and the Patriots stayed alive in the double-elimination six-team tournament. Mason will now play at approximately 7 p.m. on Friday evening against James Madison. A loss by Mason will end the Patriots' season while a win will move Mason into Saturday's Championship Game.

Scott Krieger continued his fabulous tournament going 2 for 4 with five RBI. Justin Bour was also 2 for 4 with five RBI while Ryan Soares, Chris Henderson, Josh Steinberg and Spencer Wiggins also had two hits.

For the first time in the tournament the Patriots (30-24) struck first, and when they did, they had their biggest inning to date. After falling behind 0-2, Spencer Wiggins walked to lead off the inning. Ryan Soares followed by reaching on an infield single to short and Chris Henderson came to the plate ready to bunt the runners over. After falling behind 0-2, UNCW third baseman Nate Hall backed up, but Henderson still squared to bunt and he put down a beautiful effort that resulted in an infield hit, loading the bases with no outs. Scott Krieger followed with a two-run double and Justin Bour added a three-run homer to put the Patriots ahead 5-0. It was just Bour's second homer since April 5.

The Seahawks (42-15-1) came right back and threatened in the top of the fourth as Mark Carver walked to lead off, went to second on a Nate Hall ground out and advanced to third on Cody Stanley's single to center. With runners on the corners, Jaycox got Jes Snyder and Rhett Miller to strike out to strand the runners and keep UNCW off the board. The Seahawks did finally get on the board in the fifth when Alex Hill doubled down the rightfield line and scored on Jason Appel's two-out double up the middle to make it 5-1.

Mason got the runs back in the bottom of the frame. Krieger reached on a fielder's choice as Henderson, who reached on an error, was out at second. Bour followed with a towering shot over the rightfield fence to make it 7-1. In the top of the sixth, Jaycox ran into trouble. After giving up a single, he got a double-play ball that seemed to bail him out. But with two outs, he walked Snyder and Miller and gave up a single through the left side to Mike Rooney to make it 7-2. Alex Hill followed with a home run to right to make it 7-5 and end Jaycox' day. Shawn Griffith came on in relief and got the inning's final out.

Mason's response was quick and decisive. With one out Ryan Uphouse walked and Wiggins followed with an RBI double to right-center. After a Soares' single put runners on the corners, Henderson brought home Wiggins with a single to center. Krieger followed with a historic three-run homer, the 46th of his career which tied him with Chris Looze for the school's all-time record.

Armed with a 12-5 lead, Griffith pitched around a hit in the seventh and Darren McLean took over in the eighth. With one out in the eighth, Rooney singled, Hill walked and Daniel Hargrave and Jason Appel each had RBI singles to make it 12-7. Ryan Brecko came on in relief and he walked Mark Carver before giving up a two-run single up the middle to Nate Hall. With the lead down to 12-9, Brecko got Stanley to line into a double play as Brent Weiss caught his soft liner at short and stepped on second to catch Carver.

The Patriots made certain Brecko would have plenty of room to work with to get those final three outs. In the bottom of the eighth with two outs, Krieger walked, went to second on a wild pitch and Bour was intentionally walked to bring Josh Steinberg to the plate. The sophomore designated hitter answered with a two-run double to left-center to make it 14-9.