2012 CAA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
Game 1: #4 MASON (33-22) vs. #5 VCU (32-23)

When: Wednesday, May 23, Noon
Where: Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park, Harrisonburg, Va.
Bracket: Click Here
Tickets: Click Here
Live Stats/Video: Click Here
Live Audio: Click Here

PITCHING
RSo. RHP Anthony Montefusco (4-3, 3.57 ERA) vs. Jr. LHP Ryan Farrar (4-3, 3.59 ERA)

The George Mason Patriots return to the CAA Baseball Tournament for the first time since 2009 after earning the No. 4 seed. Moving to Harrisonburg for the 2012 season, the tourney will be played at Eagle Field on the campus of James Madison University.

In its first game, Mason will face the No. 5 seed VCU Rams. The Patriots swept the season series earlier this year in Richmond. Below is a look at Mason in the tournament and this season.

LEADING THE WAY
Head Coach Bill Brown is in his 31st season with the Patriots, owning an 877-764-6 record over that span. He is 40-42 in CAA Postseason play, leading the Patriots to 23 conference tourney appearances since its inception in 1986. 

WELCOME BACK
Mason returns to the CAA Tournament for the first time since 2009, when it fell one game short of the championship after being defeated by UNC Wilmington, 5-3. Despite being eliminated in the tournament, the Patriots advanced to the NCAA Tournament that season, losing to South Carolina (11-3) and Binghamton (11-6) during the opening weekend.

IN THE TOURNEY
This season marks Mason's 23rd appearance in the CAA Baseball Tournament. The Patriots are 40-42 in conference postseason action and captured the CAA title in 1988 and 1992. As a four seed, the Patriots have gone 8-10.

AGAINST VCU IN THE TOURNEY
The Patriots and Rams have met six times in the postseason, with VCU leading the series 4-2. The two squads met each other in 1997, 1999, 2003 (two games) and 2005 (two games). In Mason's last championship game appearance during the 2003 season, the Patriots fell to the Rams, 6-0.

AT EAGLE FIELD
Mason made its first trip to Eagle Field this year, the final CAA team to make the trip since the field opened in 2010. The Patriots are 2-1 at the park.

UP NEXT
With a win in Game 1 of the tournament Mason will advance to face top seed UNCW on Thursday at noon. If the Patriots drop Game 1, they will face the loser of #3 Delaware vs. #6 Towson at 7:00 pm on Wednesday.

IN THE CONFERENCE
The Patriots went 16-14 in the CAA this season, dropping just three season series as they were swept by Towson and Delaware and fell to UNCW, 2-1. Mason was an impressive 15-9 in conference play before the final two CAA weekends when it went just 1-5.

NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP
Mason has dropped five of its last six games, but ended the season on a positive note as it rallied to defeat UNCW 10-9.

CHART TOPPER
Senior utility player Brig Tison has had an outstanding senior campaign for the Patriots, leading the team in batting average (.368), on-base percentage (.425), runs scored (44), hits (84) and stolen bases (13). His 84 hits currently rank eighth on the all-time single season leaders list.

POWER PLAYER
Senior designated hitter Zack Helgeson has provided much of the Mason offense this season as he has posted team highs in runs batted in (43), doubles (17), home runs (12), slugging percentage (.557) and total bases (108) while ranking second in on-base percentage (.423).

BIG RELIEF
Junior Chris O'Grady has been the star out of the bullpen this season for Mason, posting a 2-0 record with 14 saves and a 0.50 ERA in 24 appearances. His 14 saves currently tie him for the Mason single season record, while he stands third all-time on the career saves list with 15. He has limited opponents to just 18 hits and two earned runs while striking out 49 over 36 innings of work.

NCBWA RECOGNITION
For his outstanding work  in the closing role, O'Grady was named to the NCBWA's Dick Howser and Stopper of the Year semifinalist lists. The Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player in collegiate baseball, is comprised of candidates from 17 different conferences and 32 different schools, with O'Grady and Hofstra outfielder Danny Poma representing the CAA. He was also named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award watch list, given to the top relief pitcher in the country, and was the lone CAA representative among 45 nominees from across the country.

ON THE PLATE
Junior second baseman Chris Cook seems to find his way on base the hard way, as he has been hit by pitch 24 times this season, tops on the team and conference and eighth in the nation. A season ago he set a single season record with 26 HBP, and he currently owns both the school and conference career record with 65.

ADD 'EM UP
Mason has outscored its opponents 306-275 this season, going 21-3 when its registers six or more runs. The Patriots are also 24-1 when leading after six innings and a perfect 31-0 when leading after eight innings.

KEEP IT CLEAN
Multiple-error games have plagued the Patriots this season, as the team has posted an 8-16 record when committing two or more errors in a game. On the flip side, Mason is 15-4 when keeping a clean slate.