March 22, 2009

Box Score

Norfolk, Va. - The George Mason baseball team took its second-straight road win and Chris Henderson continued his hot hitting as the Patriots downed Old Dominion, 7-4. The Patriots, at 16-4, are off to the best 20-game start in school history.

Henderson, who became the second Patriot to ever hit for the cycle on Saturday, was 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Ryan Soares was 3 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored while Shane Davis had two RBI. Dan Gerjets picked up the win for Mason, which is now 2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association

Old Dominion struck first with a run in the bottom of the first. Chris Buss hit a one-out single, went to second on a Gerard Hall ground out and scored on a Jake McAloose single up the middle. The Monarchs added two more in the second when Joe Velleggia reached on a one-out single and Cameron Scott followed with a homer to left-center to make it 3-0.

The Patriots broke through in big fashion in the fourth. Spencer Wiggins singled, stole second and scored on a Chris Henderson single. Justin Bour walked with one out and he and Henderson scored on a Ryan Soares double down the rightfield line. Soares went to third on a throwing error by the second baseman and scored on a Shane Davis sacrifice fly to make it 4-3.

In the sixth, Henderson led off with a double, Krieger walked and Soares hit a one-out double to make it 5-3. Shane Davis followed with a single to make it a three-run game. The lead became 7-3 in the eighth when Soares led off with a triple and scored on Dan Palumbo's sacrifice fly to center.

Old Dominion got the run back in the bottom of the inning when Donnie Corsner singled, went to third on a Harris double and after Velleggia was hit by a pitch, scored on a Scott ground out. Ryan Brecko, who came on in relief after Velleggia was hit, struck out Edgar Hernandez to end the inning. Jordan Flasher, Mason's all-time leader in saves, pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save this season and the 20th save of his career. He allowed a hit, the first one he's surrendered in six innings this year.

The Patriots return to action on Tuesday when they host Maryland at 3 p.m.