FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason baseball team put 11 hits on
the board but stranded 13 runners as it dropped its fifth-consecutive game in a
12-5 loss to Northeastern in CAA play on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
Northeastern scored 12 runs on 15 hits to improve to 10-6
overall and 2-2 in the CAA. Mason fell to 7-10 overall and 1-3 in conference
action. In his first collegiate start NU's Nick Cubarney earned his second win
of the season, while Mason starter Jared Gaynor dropped to 1-2.
After a scoreless first, the Huskies struck in the top of
the second. With one out, Rob Fonseca doubled to left field and Connor Lyons
found a gap in right center for an RBI single to put the Huskies up, 1-0.
An inning and a half later the Patriots evened the score at
1-1. Nick Allen walked with one out, stole second and eventually came home on a
two out RBI single to the gap in right center by Duncan Satherlie.
Three consecutive hits led off the fourth for the Huskies,
as Michael Foster singled, Jason Vosler doubled and Brad Burcroff doubled to
left to score both runners and put NU ahead, 3-1. Burcroff moved to third with
his first stolen base of the season and after Gaynor struckout Fonseca, Lyons
reached on a throwing error by Mason shortstop Brandon Gum, allowing Burcroff
to score. Lyons then stole second and crossed home plate on an RBI single to
right by John Puttress to push the Northeastern lead to 5-1.
NU added another run in the top of the seventh with a sac
fly by Jason Vosler to assume a 6-1 lead, but Mason chipped away at the lead in
the home half of the inning bringing in three runs to pull to within two, 6-4. Facing
new NU pitcher Matt Cook, Tommy Vitaletti and Satherlie put up consecutive one
out singles and Tobin was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Fernandez, who
hit an infield single for the first run. Josh Leemhuis and Derek Evans then
both recorded RBI hits on the first pitches they saw to put two more runs on
the board, leaving it at 6-4.
NU got those runs back and more in the eighth, bringing in
four runs to push its lead back to six, 10-4. The Huskies put two on with one
out for pinch hitter Justin Kessler, who hit an RBI sac fly, and Pete Castoldi
reached on a fielding error by Vitaletti to allow an unearned run to come home.
After Aaron Barbosa hit an infield single, Foster brought in the final NU run
with a double to left to leave the score at 10-4.
Tobin added a run for the Patriots in the home half of the
eighth with a single through the right side, but NU added two more in the ninth
for the final 12-5 margin.
Satherlie went a perfect 4-for-4 with an RBI and run scored,
Tobin was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Evans finished 2-for-5 with an RBI. Gaynor
threw 7.0 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits with four
strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Michael Bowie and Tyler Mocabee combined
to throw the final two innings, giving up six runs (three earned) on five hits.
All but one starting batter registered a hit for the
Huskies, led by 3-for-5, two RBI performances from Lyons and Foster. Cubarney
lasted 6.0 innings, giving up one run on five hits with three walks and a
strikeout. Cook went 1.0 inning, allowing three runs on four hits, and Brad
McLean threw the final two innings, giving up one run on two hits with two
walks and two strikeouts.
The Patriots and Huskies take to the diamond tomorrow for game
two of the series at 2:00 p.m.
