FAIRFAX, Va. – Brown (1-3) used 13 singles to drive in six runs as the went on to defeat the George Mason baseball team (9-7) 6-3 in the first of three games between the two at Spuhler Field this weekend.
Other than a Josh Leemhuis double in the eighth inning, 20 of the 21 hits in the ballgame went for singles as the Patriots collected eight on the day to score three runs. Anthony Montefusco allowed his first runs of the season in the first season and was served his first loss of the season, moving his record to 3-1.
After retiring the leadoff hitter, Montefusco allowed three consecutive singles to load the bases in the first inning. He would walk the next batter and allowed another single and an RBI groundout in the remainder of the inning to put Brown up 3-0 after the top frame. The runs were the only ones allowed in his six innings of work in which he struck out five batters and walked two while allowing 10 hits. Montefusco's ERA still remains a low 0.87 after five starts this season.
The singles continued through the middle part of the ballgame however no runs were put on the board until the bottom of the eighth inning by the Patriots. Lucas Whitehill through the first seven shutout innings for the Bears in his first start of the season, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters for his first victory of 2014.
Hits were strung together for the first time for the Patriots in the eighth inning when Brandon Gum and Luke Willis led off with back-to-back singles. Chris Cook put down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners before Montefusco eventually singled off the leg of pitcher Kevin Guthrie to bring home Gum from third. Leemhuis connected on his RBI double in the next at bat to bring home Willis while Montefusco was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first to end the inning.
With a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth, Brown was able to score three more in the final inning to advance its lead to four runs. A last effort from the Patriots came when Gum singled home Tucker Tobin from third, but the game would end in the next at bat.
Mason looks to even the series on Saturday, March 15 when the two teams resume play at 2:00 p.m. at Spuhler Field with LHP Jared Gaynor as the probable starter. Live audio will be available on GoMason.com.
