April 8, 2010

Fairfax, Va. - The George Mason baseball team will play a three-game series this weekend with Old Dominion as the Patriots host the Monarchs on Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. The Patriots (17-9) are 13-5 in the past 18 games while Old Dominion (13-20) is 4-15 over the past 19 games. Friday's contest is the Broadside Game of the Week and Mason students will receive a free Washington Nationals ticket (April 16 vs. Milwaukee) while supplies last. Other prizes and giveaways will be available throughout the weekend series.

The Patriots are currently 3-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association after having faced the teams picked to finish first and second in the CAA's preseason poll of coaches. Mason dropped two of three at home to James Madison, the preseason favorite, before taking two of three from UNC Wilmington, which was predicted to finish second. Old Dominion is 2-4 after an equally hard schedule. The Monarchs dropped two of three to Georgia State, the defending CAA champions picked to finish third in the CAA, and two of three to JMU.

Mason is the only team in the CAA to be among the top four in hitting (.337- second), pitching (5.15 ERA - fourth) and fielding (.967 - second). The Monarchs are last in the league in batting with a 2.69 average and sixth in pitching, with a 6.20 ERA. The Monarchs are fourth in fielding at .963.

Mason entered the week 13th in the nation in scoring (9.1), 20th in doubles per game (2.67) and 31st in batting average (.337). Mason also was 15th in hit by pitch and sacrifice flies and they have added a decent amount to both those totals, hitting two sacrifice flies and having been hit nine times in the past two games, a 3-1 win over Maryland and a 20-6 win over George Washington.

Mason's most complete player this year has been shortstop Ryan Soares. He is hitting .442 with six homers, 15 doubles, two triples, 45 RBI and a .798 slugging percentage. When the week began, he was second in the nation in RBI per game and doubles per game, first in sacrifice flies with eight and 29th in batting average.

The Patriots will send Kevin Crum, Ryan Brecko and Kris Mengle to the mound. Crum is 4-0 with a 4.18 ERA, Brecko is 2-0 with a .291 opponent's batting average and Mengle is 2-1 with just 10 walks allowed in 31.1 innings. The bullpen has been critical to Mason's success as A.J. Johnson has five saves and a 0.84 ERA having allowed one earned run and three hits in 10.2 innings pitched and Anthony Montefusco is 2-1 with two saves and a 1.50 ERA in 18 innings of work, having allowed just 13 hits and two walks.

While Mason has five players batting .350 or better and three batting .425 or better, Old Dominion has just two players batting better than .300 and none better than .375. Kenny Stoneback is hitting .373 in 67 at-bats and Jake McAloose is hitting .337 with four homers and 16 RBI. Kyle Hald, one of the CAA's top starting pitchers will take the mound on Friday. He is 5-2 with a 2.30 ERA and he has three complete games and a .249 opponent's batting average. He has struck out 56 in 54.2 innings having allowed just 51 hits and 12 walks. Brett Tomchick will take the mound on Saturday. He is 3-3 with a 7.13 ERA. Old Dominion has not settled yet on a Sunday starter.

The Patriots won three of the four meetings between the teams last season, including an 11-5 CAA Tournament win.