CONWAY, S.C. - Two home runs by senior designated hitter
Zack Helgeson wouldn't be enough offense to power the George Mason baseball
team as it fell, 8-5, to N.C. State in the opening game of the Coastal Carolina
Baseball on the Beach Tournament on Friday afternoon at Watson Stadium.
Helgeson gave Mason (1-3) a 4-0 lead after the top of the
first after he powered the ball to left center for a grand slam. Junior second
baseman Chris Cook was hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced to
second after N.C. State pitcher Anthony Tzamtzis tried to pick him off at first,
but threw the ball past first baseman Andrew Ciencin. The next batter, senior
third baseman Brig Tison, singled through the left side, advancing Cook to
third and then advanced himself on a wild pitch to leave runners on second and
third with no outs. Senior center fielder Dan Schafferman popped up to second
base and sophomore right fielder Blaise Fernandez struck out swinging for two
quick outs, but junior shortstop Duncan Satherlie walked to load the bases,
setting up the grand slam for Helgeson, his second home run of the season.
The Wolfpack recorded a run in their half of the first
inning, as leadoff hitter Trea Turner was walked by Mason starting pitcher A.J.
Johnson and then stole second base. Catcher Brett Austin singled to Johnson, reaching
first on a throwing error by Johnson which allowed Turner to score and leave
the score at 4-1.
N.C. State added another pair of runs in the bottom of the
second to pull to within one run, 4-3. With one out, left fielder Tarran Senay
singled to right center and eventually scored off of a triple by center fielder
Jake Fincher. Turner chipped in an RBI of his own as he laid down a bunt that
allowed Fincher to cross home plate, before Johnson closed the inning by
striking out Austin.
Taking the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning,
N.C. State scored three runs for a 6-4 advantage. Shortstop Chris Diaz led off
the inning with a single to right field, and right fielder Ryan Mathews
followed with a walk. A bunt by Senay was picked up by Johnson, but the throw
to first was off, allowing Diaz to score while advancing Mathews to third.
Johnson was then replaced by junior Kevin Lingerman, who struck out his first
batter faced but then walked Fincher to load the bases.
Turner hit an RBI single to right, scoring Mathews, and Austin
followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Senay from third and leaving
runners on first and second. After a double steal, Lingerman got out of the
inning by forcing Ciecin to fly out to center field.
N.C. State added another run in the bottom of the seventh
for a 7-4 lead before Helgeson hit his second home run of the game and third of
the season to left center in the top of the eighth to get the Patriots back to
within two runs, 7-5. However, the Wolfpack added another run in their half of
the eighth and Chris Overman came on in the ninth to earn his first win of the
season as N.C. State emerged victorious.
Helgeson finished the day 2-for-4 with five RBI's and two
runs scored. Tison went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
Johnson took the loss for Mason, working 5.0 innings with
six hits, six runs (five earned), four walks and a strikeout. Lingerman threw
2.2 innings of relief, allowing five hits two earned runs, a walk and a
strikeout, and sophomore Sean Cabrera also made an appearance, throwing just
0.1 innings after getting Canela to ground out to first with two outs in the
bottom of the eighth.
N.C. State's Turner was 3-for-4 with two RBI's and two runs
scored, while Austin was 1-for-4 with two RBI and Senay finished 3-for-4 with
an RBI and two runs scored.
Relief pitcher Ryan Wikins earned the win, working 5.0
innings with 2 hits, one earned run, two walks and a strikeout. Starting
pitcher Anthony Tzamtzis lasted just 3.0 innings, giving up two hits, four
earned runs, four walks and four strikeouts. Overman's save came after 1.0
innings pitched with 1 hit, one walk and two strikeouts.
Mason returns to action tomorrow, facing Iowa at 11:00 am
and Virginia Tech at 5:00 pm.
