The George Mason baseball team managed just three
hits on Wednesday afternoon against the University of Maryland as the Patriots
fell to the Terrapins, 6-1 at Spuhler Field. The bright spot for Mason is that
two of those hits belonged to Brig Tison, who continues to lead the nation in
hits and extended his hitting streak to 23-straight, two shy of tying the
school record. It was Tison's 29th
multi-hit game of the season and
the 18th
during his 23-game hitting streak.
The Terrapins broke through in the third when Jake
Stinnett reached on a one-out infield single, went to second on a Korey Whacker
ground out and scored on a Charlie White single through the left side. They
made the lead 2-0 in the fourth when Ryan Holland was hit by a pitch, went to
third on a one-out Aaron Etchison single and scored on a Kyle Convissar base
hit through the left side.
The Patriots cut it to a one-run lead in the fourth
when Tison led off the inning with the first hit of the game for the Patriots,
went to second on a Blaise Fernandez walk, took third on a wild pitch and scored
on a Shane Davis ground out.
Maryland again made it a two-run lead in the fifth.
Wacker led off with a single, stole second, went to third on White's bunt
single and scored on an Alfredo Rodriguez base hit. With runners on first and
second and no one out, Kevin Lingerman entered the game and he picked off White
and struck out Ryan Holland and Austin Kilbourne to end the threat. But
Lingerman got into trouble in the sixth. He walked the leadoff batter, gave up
a one-out walk to Convissar, then threw a double-play ball into centerfield
allowing Maryland to go up 4-1. Sean Cabrera came on in relief and the
Terrapins executed a double steal on his first pitch. After getting Wacker to
ground into a fielder's choice, Cabrera hit White and Rodriguez followed with a
two-run single to make it 6-1.
The Patriots loaded the bases in the seventh on
three walks but couldn't get a run home. In the top of the eighth, the
Terrapins used two hits and a walk to load the bases but the Patriots turned a double
play to end the threat. In the eighth, Tison led off with a single, Dan Schafferman
followed with a walk and after a Blaise Fernandez strikeout, Davis walked to
load the bases. But Zack Helgeson struck out looking and Nick Allen flew out to
center to end the threat.
The Patriots return to action on Friday when they
open a three-game series with Towson at 3 p.m.
