MASON (8-4, 0-0 CAA) vs. HOFSTRA (4-7, 0-0 CAA)
When: Friday-Sunday, March 9-11, 2012
Where: Spuhler Field
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Pitching
Friday: RHP Anthony Montefusco (2-0, 0.86 ERA) vs. RHP David D'Errico (1-1, 2.08 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Ryan Pfaeffle (1-0, 0.56 ERA) vs. RHP John Tiedemann (1-1, 5.84 ERA)
Sunday: RHP A.J. Johnson (1-2, 6.60 ERA) vs. RHP David Jesch (1-0, 4.91 ERA)

Mason kicks off its 2012 CAA campaign with a home series versus Hofstra this weekend. The Patriots will look to avenge a sweep at the hands of the Pride last year in Hempstead (5-9, 2-5, 5-13). Mason and Hofstra last met at Spuhler Field in 2009 when the Patriots were on the winning end of a series sweep (7-2, 10-3, 9-5).

Friday's starting pitcher for Mason, redshirt sophomore Anthony Montefusco, is the reigning CAA Pitcher of the Week. In a 1-0 win over Bryant last Friday Montefusco threw eight shutout innings, allowing only three hits and striking out 12. He fanned eight of the first 13 batters he faced and then struck out the side in his final frame in the eighth inning. This season, Montefusco is 2-0 in three starts with an 0.86 ERA. He has allowed just two runs on 15 hits over 21.0 innings pitched while striking out 25.

Another conference honoree will take to the field this weekend in Hofstra junior first baseman Jared Hammer, who is the reigning CAA Co-Player of the Week. Hammer batted .667 (10-15) with four doubles, four runs, nine RBIs and two stolen bases in Hofstra's 3-1 week. He had two or more hits and at least one RBI in all four games, posting a .933 slugging percentage and a .706 on-base percentage for the week.

The Patriots are currently on a three-game winning streak with its last win coming in an impressive 19-4 showing over Temple on Wednesday. Offensively senior third baseman Brig Tison leads the way, hitting .460 (23-50) with nine RBI's, 15 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a .518 on-base percentage. He is tied for the conference lead in hits (23) and stolen bases, while ranking second in hitting percentage and runs scored, and fourth in on-base percentage. Senior outfielder Dan Schafferman has a team and conference-high 16 RBI's while going .348 (16-46) at the plate.

Hofstra's most recent game was a 6-5 loss to Fordham on Sunday, dropping the Pride to 4-7 overall. Hammer provides the spark for Hofstra's offense, as he currently leads the conference and team in hitting percentage (.463) and runs batted in (16). He also leads the team in doubles (7) and on-base percentage (.522), while standing second and third in the conference in those categories, respectfully. Danny Poma has a team-high 13 runs scored while going 17-for-44 (.386) at the plate.