ROCKVILLE, Md. -The George Mason baseball team took an early
lead and never trailed in the game as it swept its season series with
Georgetown in a 6-3 win on Tuesday evening at Shirley Povich Field.
Mason drove in two runs each in the second, sixth and seventh
innings to improve to 28-15 overall on the season.
In the second inning, sophomore third baseman Blaise Fernandez
and classmate first baseman Mick Foley walked to open the second inning, and
Fernandez advanced to third on a wild pitch before being driven in by a sacrifice
fly by sophomore outfielder Josh Leemhuis. Georgetown starting pitcher Max
Allen then issued his third walk of the inning to Jake Leonardo and after
junior second baseman Chris Cook popped out, junior outfielder Nick Allen lined
a double to the left field corner that scored Foley. Leonardo also tried to
score on the play, but he was called out at home to end the inning with Mason
leading, 2-0.
Extending the Patriot lead in the top of the sixth, senior
shortstop Brig Tison led off with a double and senior outfielder Dan
Schafferman hit his fifth home run of the season to left field, pushing the
lead to 4-0.
Mason added two insurance runs in the seventh, stretching
the lead to 6-0. With two outs and runners at the corners, Tison hit his second
double of the day deep to left field, earning an RBI while junior outfielder
Nick Allen came home on a wild pitch for the final Mason run.
Georgetown cut the Mason lead in half during the home half
of the seventh inning, scoring three runs to leave the scoreboard at 6-3.
All seven of Mason's hits came from the top three in the
batting order, as Allen finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, Tison was 2-for-4 with an
RBI and Schafferman went 2-for-4 with two RBI's.
Freshman John Williams (4-2) earned the win in six innings
of work, giving up two earned runs while scattering four hits with three
strikeouts. Branden Bartlett threw one inning of relief, allowing one unearned
run on two hits, and junior Chris O'Grady recorded his 11th save of
the season after pitching the final two innings.
Second baseman Andy Lentz led the Hoya offense with a
2-for-4 performance at the plate. Starter Max Allen took the loss, working just
two innings and giving up two earned runs on two hits with three walks.
The Patriots return to action tomorrow, traveling to Coppin
State for a 3:00 pm contest.
