HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – An error-plagued day for the George Mason baseball team helped Hofstra complete the CAA weekend sweep, as the Pride won Sunday's contest, 14-9, at University Field.
Mason finished the game with eight errors, including four in the bottom of the first inning, to fall to 12-15 overall and 4-8 in the CAA. Hofstra earned its first CAA series sweep of the season, improving to 3-9 in the CAA and 11-16 overall.
Mason took the lead in the top of the first, as Tommy Vitaletti led off with a single and came home on a two-run home run from Duncan Satherlie, his first of the season. Tucker Tobin then hit an infield single, stole second and moved to third on a single from Anthony Montefusco before crossing home as Montefusco stole second to put the Patriots ahead, 3-0.
The lead was short lived however, as Hofstra capitalized on four Mason errors to go up, 4-3. HU opened the home half of the inning with three consecutive singles to bring in one run. After Mason starter John Williams struck out Jared Hammer, Matt Reistetter singled to right field and advanced to second on an error by Satherlie which also allowed two runs to score and tie the game at 3-3. Another Patriot error let the go-ahead run score as Reistetter stole third and scored on a throwing error by catcher Patrick Esposito.
Jordan Hill put the Patriots back in control in the top of the second with a two run home run, his first of the season, but Hofstra put another run on the board in the home half to knot the score at 5-5.
The lead exchanged hands three times over the next two innings, as Hofstra added a run in the bottom of the third to take the lead (6-5) before Mason tallied two in the top of the fourth to jump back ahead (7-6). However, the Pride took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth, stringing together four consecutive RBI hits to score four runs and assume a 10-7 advantage.
Mason added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but Hofstra answered each time to keep its advantage at three runs, 12-9, and added two more in the eighth for the final 14-9 margin.
Hill finished a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI's at the plate, while Satherlie went 1-for-3 with two RBI's. Mason used five pitchers on the day, as starter Williams went just 3.0 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Coming on in relief of Williams, Mark Maksimow was saddled with the loss after allowing the go-ahead runs in the fourth, working just 0.1 innings.
Hofstra had multiple players record multiple hits on the day, led by a 3-for-4, three RBI showing from Reistetter. Starter Jesch lasted just 1.1 innings and gave up five runs on six hits before being relieved by Barbarino, who went 2.2 innings giving up two runs. Schreiber picked up the win after 3.0 innings of work, while Tiedemann earned his first save of the season, working the final two innings.
The Patriots return to action on Tuesday, welcoming George Washington to Spuhler Field at 3:00 p.m.
