March 31, 2010

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason plated multiple runs in every inning except one in a 19-2 rout of UMBC on Wednesday afternoon at Spuhler Field. The Patriots finished with a season-high 25 hits in the win, eclipsing their previous season-high total of 24 on Feb. 18 against Northwestern.

The Patriots scored runs in each of the first six innings to take an insurmountable lead and improve their overall record to 13-8 on the season. Mason scored twice in the first, three times in the second and third, five in the fourth, and twice in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings. The only inning in which the Patriots failed to score a run was the seventh inning, and Mason loaded the bases before the final out was recorded in that frame.

Senior Ryan Soares led George Mason with five RBI on three hits. Sophomore Dan Schafferman paced the Patriots at the plate with six hits in six at bats. Schafferman finished the day with four singles, a double, a triple, five runs scored and three RBI. Leadoff hitter Jeremy Haas set the table all afternoon with five hits in seven at bats. Haas hit two doubles, scored three runs and drove in two.

While the offense scored runs in bunches, the Patriot pitching staff held UMBC's offense in check. After allowing an RBI single to UMBC's Curtis Schickner in the top half of the second inning, starter Ryan Pfaeffle settled down, allowing only one more run to score in the next four innings. Pfaeffle pitched six innings and allowed two earned runs with eight strikeouts. The right-hander improved to 2-3 on the season with the win. Freshman Brandon Kuter, junior Jack Zeltner and freshman Anthony Montefusco each pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Pfaeffle.

George Mason returns to action on Friday, April 2 at 6 p.m. against UNC Wilmington in Wilmington, N.C. The Patriots will play a three-game series against their conference rivals before returning home for an April 6 game against Maryland at Spuhler Field.