FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots split a doubleheader with Rutgers on Saturday Feb. 27 at Spuhler Field, with the Scarlet Knights taking the first game 11-5 and Mason coming back to win the second game 6-5.
In game one Rutgers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third against Mason starter Tyler Zombro (0-2). After one-out singles by R.J. Devish and Chris Suseck, junior Tom Marcinczyk doubled to center field to collect his first RBI of the season, with Devish cruising home from third base.
In their first-ever visit to George Mason, the Scarlet Knights doubled the lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth. Jawuan Harris led off the inning with an infield single, quickly stole second and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Suseck then drove in Harris with a single up the middle.
The Patriots broke through in the home half of the sixth. Sophomore Tyler Nelin drew a two-out walk and freshman Tim Quinn doubled to right-center to make the score 2-1.
In the top of the seventh, Rutgers sent 15 batters to the plate and scored nine runs on eight hits to break the game open.
“The seventh inning got away from us and we lost control of the game,” head coach Bill Brown said of the Scarlet Knights batting around.
The big hit in the inning came off the bat of Devish, who blasted a three-run homer over the left field fence for his first career home run. Every player in the starting lineup for the Scarlet Knights recorded at least one hit.
Mason scored twice in the bottom of the eighth. Freshman Jonathan Hansen had a RBI single and Quinn scored on a throwing error. The Patriots also pushed two runs across the plate in the home half of the ninth. After a leadoff walk by sophomore Timothy Turner, Brady Acker homered to left for his second round tripper of the season.
Acker went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and scored a run. Brandon Gum. Kent Blackstone and Hansen each had two hits for the Patriots.
Zombro allowed two runs on nine hits over five innings. Brian Marconi allowed five runs on three hits in an inning of work and Ryan Ricci gave up four runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Howie Brey (1-1) gave up just one run on eight hits over six innings to earn his first win of the season. He struck out six and walked just one.
The Patriots earned the split of the doubleheader with a 6-5 win in the second game, taking advantage of three Scarlet Knight errors as the sun started to set on Spuhler Field.
The first three batters of the game reached base for the Patriots. After a single by sophomore Michael Smith and a double by Acker, Blackstone reached on a throwing error with Smith racing home to make it 1-0. Acker then scored on a ground out and it was quickly 2-0 Mason after one inning.
“It was frustrating in the first game, we didn't come to play,” Smith said of the game one loss. “It was important to get off to a good start and we definitely swung the bat a lot better and got the momentum and that gave us a chance to win.”
In the top of the fifth, Patriots starter Joe Williams allowed a single and walked two batters. With one out and one swing of the bat, Marcinczyk hit a grand slam to right-center field to put Rutgers in front 4-2.
The Patriots made it a one-run game by scoring in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 4-3 and tied the score 4-4 in the sixth when Acker walked with the bases loaded. Sophomore Tyler Nelin and freshmen Ryan Tassone each added RBI singles in the seventh to put the Patriots up for good 6-4.
“We moved runners and that was a great thing to see. We were creating opportunities for ourselves,” said Brown about generating runs.
Sophomore Joe Williams allowed four runs on four hits in his six innings of work in the no decision. Freshman Zach Mort finished the game with three strong innings, allowing a run on two hits.
“Zach was fantastic to run those last three innings the way he did,” Brown said. “He had some tough situations he had to deal with and he pitched his way out of it so I'm very happy for him.”
Williams and Mort surrendered just six hits combined, and helped the Mason bullpen get some needed rest.
“It gives us a good chance to win again tomorrow,” Brown added. “Between Joe and Zach, they gave us what we needed to not only win the game, but give us a chance to have success again tomorrow.”
Smith, Acker, Quinn and Nelin each had two hits in the second game. The Patriots left 11 runners on base and the Scarlet Knights stranded four.
The series finale is Sunday, Feb. 28 with the first pitch slated for 1 p.m. Freshman Bryce Nightengale (0-1) is scheduled to make his second start of the season. Sophomore John O'reilly (0-1) will take the hill for Rutgers.
