MASON (19-11, 6-6 CAA) at VCU (17-12, 6-6 CAA)
When: Friday-Saturday, April 6-8
Where: The Diamond, Richmond, Va.
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PITCHING
Friday: RSo. RHP Anthony Montefusco (3-1, 2.56 ERA) vs. Jr. RHP Kyle Haynes (2-2, 4.17 ERA)
Saturday: Sr. RHP Ryan Pfaeffle (2-3, 4.32 ERA) vs. Jr. LHP Ryan Farrar (3-1, 3.50 ERA)
Sunday: RSr. RHP A.J. Johnson (3-4, 4.34 ERA) vs. Fr. LHP Heath Dwyer (3-1, 2.86 ERA)

Mason and VCU enter the weekend series with an identical 6-6 record in CAA action while residing just outside of the top-six teams in the conference standings. The two teams met a season ago in Fairfax, with VCU winning the series, 2-1.

Two reigning CAA Players of the Week will take to the field in the series, as Mason pitcher A.J. Johnson was tabbed as the co-pitcher of the week and VCU infielder Joey Cujas was named the co-player of the week. Johnson scattered four hits and allowed just one run over 7.0 innings in Mason's 3-1 series-clinching victory over Georgia State last Sunday. The right-hander struck out two and didn't issue a walk for the second consecutive outing. Cujas batted .588 (10-17) with a homer, four runs scored and a team-high eight RBI's in VCU's 4-0 week on the road. The sophomore had multiple hits in all four games to raise his league-leading batting average to .460. He was also perfect in 17 fielding chances.

Senior third baseman Brig Tison tops four statistical categories for the Patriots, including batting average (.381, 5^th CAA), runs scored (30, 5^th CAA), hits (48, 1^st CAA) and on-base percentage (.451). Senior designated hitter Zack Helgeson is best on the team with a .676 slugging percentage (1^st CAA), nine home runs (1^st CAA) and 26 RBI's (6^th CAA), while senior outfielder Dan Schafferman has also driven in a team-high 26 RBI's while hitting .333, second-best on the team. Pitcher Anthony Montefusco stands second in the conference and best on the squad with 41 strikeouts, and closer Chris O'Grady has a conference-leading seven saves with an impressive 0.47 ERA.

Cujas serves as the catalyst for the Rams' offense, leading the team and conference in several categories including batting average (.461) and on-base percentage (.554). He also leads the team in slugging percentage (.637, 3^rd CAA), hits (47, 2^nd CAA) and RBI's (31, 2^nd CAA). Sophomore outfielder Bill Cullen tops the team with 47 hits, including a team-leading 14 doubles and seven triples.

TEAM STATISTICS
Batting
Mason                Category              VCU
8^th - .275       Batting Average     3^rd - .296
3^rd - .375              OBP              4^th - .372
4^th - 179          Runs Scored        7^th - 158
6^th - 277              Hits               1^st - 300
4^th - 155              RBI                T-5^th - 140
1^st - 224          Strikeouts           8^th - 169
5^th - 33          Stolen Bases         9^th - 23

Pitching
Mason              Category          VCU
3^rd - 3.80             ERA         5^th - 4.37
3^rd - .264          Opp. BA      6^th - .275
T-1^st - 221       Strikeout      4^th - 214
4^th - 98              Walks        2^nd - 80
1^st - 11              Saves        T-3^rd - 8