HARRISONBURG, Va. - Senior first baseman Zack Helgeson hit
two home runs, but it was not enough
offense to help the fourth-seeded George Mason baseball team rally from an
early deficit as the Patriots eliminated
from the2012 CAA Championship with a 12-7 loss to the sixth-seeded Towson
Tigers on Thursday afternoon at Eagle Field.
Helgeson recorded his 14th and 15th
home runs of the season and second of the third of the tournament, and the
Patriots outhit the Tigers, 18-13, tying a season-high for hits, but the team
stranded nine runners and allowed 11 walks throughout the game as it ended its
season with an overall record of 33-24. Towson improved to 27-30 on the season,
advancing in the loser's bracket where they will play tonight at 8:30.
Mason came out swinging, as its first three hitters all registered
hits. However, the Patriots fell victim to strong defensive play from the
Tigers, as they ended the inning without scoring a run.
Towson capitalized with runners in scoring position in the
bottom of the first, as it loaded the bases with two outs for Andrew Parker,
who lined a bases-clearing double down the left field line to put the Tigers
ahead, 3-0.
Helgeson chipped away at the Towson lead in the top of the
second, blasting a solo shot to straightaway center, slicing the deficit to
3-1.
More two out run production extended the Tiger lead in the
bottom of the third, as Towson received a two run double from second baseman
Pat Fitzgerald, extending the lead to 5-1. Two additional Towson runs crossed
home plate in the bottom of the fourth inning for a 7-1 margin.
In the top of the sixth, two-out run production from the
Patriots helped keep the game within reach. With one out, sophomore third
baseman Blaise Fernandez walked and one batter later Helgeson reached on the
second walk of the inning by Towson starter Michael Trionfo. Sophomore Josh
Leemhuis then stepped to the plate and hit an RBI single to right field to
bring home Fernandez and cut into the lead, 7-2. Senior catcher Jake Leonardo
then followed with an RBI double to left for the final Mason run of the inning
to cut the deficit to 7-3.
The Patriot momentum was short lived, though, as Towson
tallied five runs in its half of the sixth, building its lead to 12-3.
However, the Patriots wouldn't go down without a fight,
bringing in four runs with two outs showing on the scoreboard in the seventh to
pull to within five runs, 12-7. Junior outfielder Nick Allen and senior
shortstop Brig Tison led off the inning with singles before Schafferman
grounded into a double play that allowed Allen to advance to third. Fernandez
then stepped to the plate and hit an RBI single to center and Satherlie lined a
single to the same spot to put two runners on for Helgeson, who hit his second
home run of the game, inching the Patriots closer, 12-7.
Towson padded its lead in the bottom of the eighth, loading
the bases and driving in four more runs for the final 16-7 margin.
Mason put runners on base in the eighth and ninth, bringing
in one run on a single by Leemhuis in the ninth for the final 16-8 margin, but
Towson remained perfect against the Patriots this season after sweeping the season
series in March at Scheurholz Park.
Senior Ryan Pfaeffle worked the opening 3.1 innings of the
game, giving up seven runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts to
drop to 5-6 on the season. Senior A.J. Johnson came on in relief, throwing two
innings while allowing five runs on four hits with four walks. Sophomore Sean
Cabrera and juniors Kevin Lingerman and Chris O'Grady combined to throw the
final 2.2 innings for the Patriots.
Helgeson continued his hot play during the tournament, going
2-for-3 with two home runs, four RBI's and three runs scored. Tison, Satherlie
and Leonardo each finished the day 3-for-5.
Fisher was a home run short of hitting for the cycle, going
3-for-5 with two RBI's and two runs scored. First baseman Brendan Butler was a
perfect 3-for-3 with four runs scored. Trionfo picked up the win to improve to
11-3, working 5.2 innings with three runs scored on eight hits.
