RICHMOND, Va. - George Mason sophomore pitcher Anthony
Montefusco threw eight scoreless innings to help lead the baseball team past
VCU, 7-4, on Friday evening at The Diamond.
Montefusco improved to 4-1 while tying his longest start of the season. He finished the game with four runs on seven hits, three strikeouts and
no walks.
With two outs and runners on first and second in the top of
the fifth inning, junior second baseman Chris Cook delivered an RBI single to
left field, giving Mason a 1-0 edge.
The Patriots built on the lead in the top of the seventh,
bringing in four runs to grab a 5-0 advantage. Sophomore third baseman Blaise Fernandez
and sophomore first baseman Mick Foley walked to start the inning, and both
advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt by senior catcher Jake Leonardo. Junior
outfielder Nick Allen stepped to the plate and reached on a fielders choice
that scored Fernandez from third as he snuck past VCU catcher Taylor Perkins
for a 2-0 lead. Cook then recorded his second RBI of the game with a hard-hit
double to right field that scored Foley and, after senior shortstop Brig Tison
was intentionally walked, junior outfielder Duncan Satherlie lined the ball up
the middle to bring in the final two Mason runs of the inning.
Adding insurance runs in the top of the eighth, Leonardo
drilled a double down the left field line that scored a run before crossing
home plate himself on a fielding error by VCU shortstop Vimael Machin to extend
the Mason advantage, 7-0.
Montefusco started the ninth inning for Mason, but was
replaced by closer Chris O'Grady after giving up four-consecutive hits that
allowed a single VCU run to cross the plate. O'Grady got his first two batters
faced to ground out, but a single run scored on each of the hits to pull the
Rams to within four runs, 7-3. VCU outfielder Taylor Buran laid down a bunt to
bring in one more Rams run and leave the scoreboard at 7-4 in favor of Mason,
but O'Grady closed the game with another groundout to secure the win.
Cook led the Patriots with a 2-for-5 performance at the
plate, two RBI's and one run scored. Satherlie was 1-for-2 with two RBI's,
while Leonardo (2-for-3) and Allen (1-for-4) each chipped in an RBI.
Buran paced the Rams with a 2-for-4, one RBI performance.
Starter Kyle Haynes took the loss after throwing 6.0 innings and giving up
three runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
The Patriots return to action tomorrow in game two of the
three-game series at VCU. Gametime is slated for 3:00 pm.
