FAIRFAX, Va. – A big sixth inning gave Towson a big lead, and a late inning rally by the Patriots fell short as the baseball team dropped its CAA series opener with Towson, 10-6, on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
With the win, the Tigers improved to 18-16 overall and 8-5 in the conference, while the Patriots dropped to 12-22 overall and 4-12 in the CAA. Towson starter Mike Volpe picked up his fifth win of the year to move to 5-2, while Mason starter Jared Gaynor fell to 2-5.
Towson took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Parker, but the Patriots responded in the home half, as Derek Evans doubled to right and came home on an RBI single from Blaise Fernandez to knot the score at 1-1.
Playing small in the third, Towson took the lead for good as Brendan Butler led off with a double, advanced to third on a bunt from Brandon Gonnella and scored on a bunt, this time by Zach Fisher, to put the Tigers ahead, 2-1.
Another run for Towson in the sixth doubled their lead, as the Tigers put two in scoring position for Kurt Wertz who singled to right field to bring in one run, 3-1.
Towson broke the game open in the sixth, scoring seven runs on six hits to jump out to a 9-1 advantage. The Patriots put another run on the board in the home half to cut into the advantage, 9-2. With two outs, Anthony Montefusco and Duncan Satherlie connected on back-to-back singles before Josh Leemhuis broght Montefusco home with a double down the right field line.
However the Tigers got that run right back in the top of the seventh, loading the bases for Zach Fisher, who ground into a double play that allowed a run to come home and put the advantage back at eight, 10-2.
Chipping away at the lead in the bottom of the eighth, Montefusco was hit by a pitch and Satherlie singled to put two on for Leemhuis who found a gap in left to score both runners and leave the scoreboard at 10-4.
The Patriots looked to complete the rally in the home half of the ninth as Jordan Hill and Derek Evans led off the inning with consecutive doubles to bring in one run. Towson put a new pitcher on the mound and he retired his first batter faced before Tobin hit the third double of the inning to bring in Evans and leave the scoreboard at 10-6. However, it was all the more the Patriots would add, as Montefusco and Satherlie grounded out to end the game.
Leemhuis paced the Mason offense with a 3-for-4, three RBI showing, while Gum and Satherlie both finished 2-for-4. Gaynor went 5.2 innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Chris Payne went just 0.1 innings and gave up three runs on three hits with four walks, while Tanner Love closed the game with three scoreless innings, allowing two hits with a strikeout.
Brandon Gonnella went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI's, and Peter Bowles finished 3-for-5 with two RBI's.
The Patriots and Tigers square off again tomorrow at Spuhler Field starting at 2:00 p.m.
