MRYTLE BEACH, SC – Trailing 3-0 after six innings, the George Mason baseball (3-1) team scored once in the seventh and eighth innings but was unable to come any closer as they lost to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (2-2) 3-2 on Thursday afternoon in Myrtle Beach, SC.
The two teams kicked off the 15th annual Caravelle Resort's Baseball at the Beach tournament, Mason's third appearance in the tournament and first since 2012. Freshman Cole Schaefer picked up the win for the Chanticleers after pitching three scoreless innings in which he struck out five consecutive batters to begin the game.
Senior RHP Jared Gaynor tossed seven innings for the Patriots, allowing five hits, walking four and striking out three. Three runs scored however none were charged to Gaynor as he threw 94 pitches in his first loss of the season. Gaynor was also able to catch two Chanticleer baserunners off guard, picking off one and catching another in a run down during the game.
Mason was blanked the first three innings by Schaefer who was making his first starting of the season. The freshman lefty struck out the first five batters, six total, in three perfect innings of baseball. Coastal Carolina scored each of its runs in the bottom of the third inning, using a throwing error by Gaynor on a sacrifice bunt attempt help them score two of the three.
The Mason offense picked up in the seventh inning after the Patriots recorded a season-low two hits through the first six innings. After senior Tucker Tobin grounded out to first, Blasé Fernandez teamed up with Ray Toto for doubles in the inning to score the first run of the ballgame for Mason.
Mason's second run of the game came in the following inning when Brandon Gum led off the inning with a walked followed by Chris Cook getting hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, his fifth of the season. After Josh Leemhuis dropped a well-executed sacrifice bunt down the third-base line to advance the runners, a passed ball by pitcher Seth Lamando allowed Gum to score and make it a 3-2 game. Cook was stranded at third at the end of the inning after relief pitcher Tyler Poole struck out Luke Willis and Tobin to end the inning. Poole made his second save of the season in the contest.
The Patriots put a man in scoring position in the top of the ninth when a Toto grounder to short was thrown into the Mason dugout, allowing him to advance to second. The Green and Gold were unable to capitalize, with pinch hitter Derek Evans striking out to end the game. Mason struck out 12 times in the contest while each side left six runners on base throughout the game.
Friday afternoon's contest with Ilinois has been postponed. A possible matchup with Wichita St. on Friday is currently in the process of being organized at a time to-be-determined.. Follow @MasonBaseball on Twitter and continue to check GoMason.com for the latest updates and game schedules.
