FAIRFAX, Va. – A big four run seventh inning by the University of Connecticut broke a 2-2 tie and propelled the Huskies to a 6-3 win over the George Mason baseball team in game one of a weekend non-conference series on Thursday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
The win snapped a six-game skid for UConn, improving its record to 29-25 on the season. Mason fell to 17-34 overall. Carson Cross picked up his eighth win of the season (8-4) while Jared Gaynor took the loss for Mason (2-9).
Bringing in a run without a hit in the top of the first, Tom Verdi was hit by a pitch to start the game, advanced to second on a sac bunt by Billy Ferritter and stole third before crossing home on a sac fly to right by LJ Mazzilli to put the Huskies ahead, 1-0.
Mason knotted the score in the bottom of the second. Leading off the home half with an infield single, Duncan Satherlie then scored on a Tucker Tobin double to deep left that just missed going over the wall to leave the scoreboard at 1-1.
Taking back the lead in the top of the fourth, Mazzilli became the second leadoff hitter to reach safely before advancing all the way to third and scoring on a sac fly by Bobby Melley to push the Huskies ahead, 2-1.
Blaise Fernandez once again tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, delivering a two on, two out RBI single to right field to even the score, 2-2.
Jared Gaynor was strong through the first six innings, limiting UConn to just three hits over that span before allowing five hits in the top of the seventh as the Huskies capitalized to take a 6-2 lead. Vinny Siena bunted his way aboard to lead off the inning and one out later Max McDowell sent a shot deep over the left field wall to give UConn a 4-2 advantage. The Huskies then connected on three consecutive hits to bring in two more runs and end Gaynor's day while extending the lead at four runs, 6-2.
The Patriots got one of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning, as Derek Evans recorded a two-out RBI single to get the Patriots back to within three, 6-3. However, the Huskies added an insurance run in the top of the ninth for the final 7-3 margin.
Tobin finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Evans was 2-for-5 with an RBI and Josh Leemhuis went 2-for-5. Gaynor lasted 6.1 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout. Taylor Hunt closed the game for the Patriots, working the final 2.2 innings and giving up one run on three hits with a strikeout.
Jon Testani, who entered the game in the second after Stanley Paul was injured, finished the day 3-for-4, McDowell's lone hit (1-4) came on the two-run home run, and Daniello finished 1-for-3 with two RBI's.
The UConn pitching staff did not walk a batter all day, and Cross picked up the win after six innings of work, allowing two runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts.
The Patriots and Huskies return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon for game two of the series from Spuhler Field at 3:00 p.m.
