PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. - Georgia State capitalized on two-out
run production to start the game and steadily built its lead over the opening
innings as the Panthers topped the George Mason baseball team, 12-3, on
Saturday at the GSU Baseball Complex.
GSU starter Garrett Ford (2-2) fell two outs shy of a
complete game as the Panthers improved to 10-6 overall and 1-1 in the CAA,
while the Patriots dropped to 7-6 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
Mason starter Anthony Montefusco (1-2) set down the Panthers
in order in the first, but GSU put up eight runs in the second, third and
fourth innings, with all but one of those runs coming with two outs on the
scoreboard.
In the bottom of the second, the Panthers had runners on the
corners before connecting on three consecutive RBI singles to give the home
team the early 3-0 lead. GSU added two more runs in the third, as Chris Triplett led off the inning with a single
and came home on a double from designated hitter Chase Raffield. After two
consecutive outs, the Panthers registered their fourth run of the game with two
outs as Greg Bowder singled to score Raffield and extend the Panthers lead to
5-0.
Again two out run production hurt the Patriots in the fourth,
as Montefusco gave up a three run home run to Raffield to put the home team ahead, 8-0. The
final runs for the Panthers came in the fifth with four more runs crossing home plate for a 12-0 advantage.
Mason threatened in the seventh, as juniors Tucker Tobin and
Blaise Fernandez delivered back-to-back singles with one out, but sophomore Ray
Toto grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Patriots again looked poised to score in the eighth, as
they loaded the bases with no outs to start the inning. However, Tobin reached
on a fielder's choice, but two Mason runners were called out on a double play on the hit
and then Fernandez flied out to right, ending the Patriot scoring threat.
Mason broke up the complete game shutout in the ninth, starting with a leadoff walk from sophomore Ray Toto and a single by junior Patrick Esposito. Freshman Brandon Gum then doubled to the right field corner, allowing Toto to score and bring
the score to 12-1. Sophomore Andrew Sable followed with an RBI double and senior
Nick Allen recorded an RBI sacrifice fly pull the Patriots closer at 12-3, but
it was all the closer they would get as Tobin struck out looking to end the
game.
Montefusco went 4.0 innings for the Patriots, allowing 10 runs
(7 earned) on 11 hits with a walk and three strikeouts, and Neight Hoffa threw
the fifth, giving up two runs on three hits. The trio of Chris Payne, Michael
Bowie and Tyler Mocabee didn't allow a hit over the final three innings.
Tobin (2-for-5) and Esposito (2-for2) were the lone Patriots
with multiple hits on the day.
GSU put 14 hits on the board, led by a 3-for-3, three RBI
showing from Greg Bowder and a 2-for-4, four RBI performance by Raffield. Ford
went 8.1 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, but only struck out one
Mason batter.
The two squads wrap up the series tomorrow, with first pitch
scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Panthersville.
