April 24, 2009
Box Score
FAIRFAX, Va. - Three members of the George Mason baseball team posted three-hit games as the Patriots opened their Colonial Athletic Association series with a 7-2 victory over the visiting Hofstra Pride on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
Mason improved to 32-8 and 12-4 in CAA play with the win, while the Pride dropped to 6-24 and 2-14 in conference action with the loss.
Junior Kevin Crum improved his season record to 6-3 as he controlled the Pride bats in seven innings of work, limiting Hofstra to six hits and two runs (one earned) while fanning seven. Hofstra starter Rob Kumbatovic fell to 3-6 as he allowed the first six runs in five innings.
The Patriot offense was powered by a 3-for-4, four-RBI game from Shane Davis, while Scott Krieger finished 3-for-4 as well. Chris Henderson also turned in a trio of hits, going 3-for-5 at the plate. Hofstra's offense was led by a 2-for-4 showing by Mark Stuckless.
Mason jumped out to an early lead, scoring the first run of the day in the bottom of the first inning, though the damage could have been far worse as Kumbatovic loaded the bases with no outs. A double play allowed the lead runner, Spencer Wiggins, to score from third but also posted two outs on the board. A popout to shortstop ended the inning.
Two more Mason runs came in the very next inning though, as Davis took a 1-1 pitch to deep center field, caroming off the batter's eye beyond the outfield wall for a two-run home run, as Mark Hill previously reached on an error to lead off the second. It was Davis's third home run of the season.
The Patriots had another explosive start to the third inning as Henderson led off with a double and Krieger singled to left and advanced on the throw. Neither of the two Mason runners in scoring position would cross the plate though, as a popout and a double play ended the threat.
Hofstra scored its first run in the fourth inning, as a Chris Menstrasti single towards second base allowed John Kenny to score and narrow the gap to 3-1. Mason's response came in the fifth inning though, as RBI hits by Krieger, Ryan Soares and Davis highlighted a five-hit frame which pushed the Patriot lead to 6-1.
The Pride answered in the next inning, scoring their second run on an RBI groundout by Kenny which moved Stuckless across home plate. That would be it for the Hofstra scoring, though, as Crum and reliever Ben Reade allowed just one further hit on the game.
Mason punctuated its scoring in the seventh inning, as Davis lined a double down the left-field foul line to bring home Soares, though Hill was tagged out at the plate to end the inning.
Reade, who came in to start the eighth inning, allowed a one-out single by Stuckless in the eighth inning before retiring the final five Hofstra batters.
The Patriots will look to earn their sixth CAA series victory in as many tries in 2009 on Saturday when the two teams meet at 2 p.m. at Spuhler Field. Mason will send southpaw Mike Modica to the mound, while Hofstra will counter with southpaw Brody Fontaine as its starter.
