RADFORD, Va. – The George Mason baseball team combined solid starting pitching and timely hitting in a sweep of a doubleheader over the Highlanders, winning game one 2-0 and game two 9-3 on Saturday at Radford Baseball Stadium.
GAME ONE
Mason (13-26, 2-10 A-10) starter Tyler Zombro was the story from the start, with his second straight dominant performance in as many starts. Last Friday at George Washington, he pitched a complete game and allowed just three baserunners in a 1-0 loss.
On Saturday at Radford, Zombro picked up where he left off a week ago and kept the Highlanders guessing throughout the day in the complete-game two-hitter.
The Patriots took the lead in the top of the second. Sophomore Trevor Kelly and freshman Jonathan Hansen led off the inning with back-to-back singles up the middle. After both runners moved up to second and third on a pass ball, Kelly scored on a RBI groundout by freshman Alejandro Aponte to give Mason a 1-0 lead. The Patriots have scored the first run in each of their last five games.
Radford (10-29, 4-8 Big South) threatened in the home half of the second when sophomore Trevor Riggs led off with a triple to right-center field. Zombro struck out the next batter and with one out, senior Jordan Taylor grounded to third base. On the play, Riggs took off for home but Hansen's throw was right on target to sophomore catcher Garett Driscoll, who applied the tag on the play at the plate for the out. Zombro then struck out the final batter of the inning.
Mason added a run in the fourth. With two outs, Hansen doubled down the left-field line and freshman Greg Popatak II followed with a RBI single to make the score 2-0.
Hansen went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Sophomore Michael Smith was 1-for-4 in the game. Aponte has now driven in three runs in his last eight games.
Zombro (2-7) allowed just a single and a triple and struck out season-high nine batters without a walk. He threw a first-pitch strike to 22 of the 30 batters he faced in the game and retired the side in order six times. Zombro has surrendered just five hits with 15 strikeouts and no walks in his last two starts. It's the second consecutive complete game for the Mason right-hander.
GAME TWO
Mason wasted little time taking control of the nightcap. Smith was hit by a pitch to start the game and sophomore Tyler Nelin followed with a single to right field. On the play, the ball rolled all the way to the wall, with Smith racing around from first to score on the error to put the Patriots in front 1-0. Nelin ended up on third on the two-base error and scored when senior Kent Blackstone grounded out to give the Patriots a 2-0 edge.
The Patriots sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the third against Radford starter Mitchell MacKeith, scoring five runs on five hits and two Radford errors to increase the advantage to 7-0. Popatak drove in a run with his second triple of the season, Hansen knocked in a run with a double and Kelly drove in two with a single in the inning.
Mason starter Joe Williams allowed just one hit over the first five innings and he struck out the side in the fifth. Radford finally dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth when Riggs swung at the first pitch he saw and belted a two-run homer over the left field fence to cut the Mason lead to 7-2.
Radford added a run in the seventh to make the score 7-3, but Mason tacked on single runs in both the eighth and ninth innings for the 9-3 final. The Highlanders have lost six straight home games. The Patriots have won three in a row overall.
The doubleheader is the fourth that Mason has played this season and the first twin bill on the road.
The Patriots tied their season-high with 16 hits. Popatak went 4-for-5 in the game with a triple and three singles. He drove in a run and scored a run. Popatak finished 5-for-8 with two RBIs in the two games combined. Kelly was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Blackstone went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs. Smith, Nelin and Hansen each collected two hits. Every player in the Patriots lineup reached base at least once.
Williams (2-5) allowed two runs on three hits in 5.1 innings. He struck out five and walked four. Three Mason relievers combined to toss 3.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits.
The Patriots will go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
