Patriots Clash with Rival George Washington in Three-Game Series

Baseball 5/4/2017 5:43:00 PM

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team looks to extend its four-game winning streak this weekend, hosting George Washington in a pivotal Atlantic 10 series beginning Friday at Spuhler Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.

Mason (23-24, 10-5 A-10) sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs on two hits and five walks to build a 7-0 lead over Towson on the way to a 10-6 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday at Schuerholz Park in Towson, Md.

Seven runs ties for the most that Mason has scored in an inning this season. The Patriots plated seven runs in the third inning in a 21-1 win over VMI on Feb. 19 at Brooks Field in Wilmington, N.C.

Starter Bryce Nightengale (2-3) allowed two runs on five hits and struck out five over 6.0 innings in his longest outing of the season. Freshman Jared DiCesare allowed one hit in 1.2 innings to close out the game and pick up his team-leading fourth save.

Junior Trevor Kelly went 2-for-5 with four RBI and scored a run. He has knocked in nine runs over the last four games. Junior Tyler Nelin finished 2-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs, while classmate Frank Sturek was 2-for-3 with two walks, scored three runs and drove in a run. Sturek has scored nine runs over the last four games.

Mason scored 10 runs on 10 hits, recording four doubles and six singles. It was the eighth time this season that the Patriots have scored at least 10 runs in a game. Mason has won four straight, five of six and 10 of the last 14 games.

Every player in the starting lineup for the Patriots reached base at least twice in the game and seven players scored at least one run. Mason batters walked a season-high 10 times, with seven players issued a free pass against the Tigers.

In the last two conference series, Mason starting pitching has been dominant. Starters combined to pitch 21 of the 27 innings at Richmond in a three-game sweep over the Spiders and tossed 26 of 27 innings against St. Bonaventure.

The Patriots head into the weekend in fourth place in the Atlantic 10, trailing only VCU (15-3), Rhode Island (13-4) and St. Bonaventure (12-6).

Freshman Logan Driscoll leads the team with a .342 average and is third in RBI (29) and tied for fourth in hits (40). Nelin is hitting .304 and leads the team in hits (52), home runs (8) and doubles (13). He is fifth in the Atlantic 10 in total bases (89).

Kelly is batting .293 and leads the A-10 in RBI (42) and is second on the team in home runs (5) and third in hits (43). Junior Michael Smith has a .263 average and is second on the team in hits (44) and doubles (10). Smith leads the Atlantic 10 with 40 runs scored.

The Patriots have hit a home in 11 of their last 13 games. Mason has had 12 players hit at least one home run this season.

Mason is 36-30 in the all-time series against George Washington. The Colonials swept the three-game series last season at Barcroft Park 1-0, 14-4 and 9-3. The Patriots are 6-4 in the last 10 meetings against the Colonials, with five games decided by a single run.

GEORGE WASHINGTON SCOUTING REPORT:

The Colonials are 23-23 overall and 7-8 against Atlantic 10 opponents. George Washington is 14-8 at home and 9-15 on the road this season.

George Washington dropped 10 of its first 13 games of the season, but has a record of 13-10 since. The Colonials lost to Georgetown 8-7 at Shirley Povich Field in their last game on Tuesday. George Washington has scored five or more runs in seven of its last nine wins.

The Colonials begin the weekend in seventh place in the A-10 standings with a record of 7-8. George Washington has played five series against conference foes, winning two of three games against Davidson and at Richmond, while dropping two of three against UMass, Rhode Island and at VCU.

Senior Bobby Campbell leads the team in average (.354), hits (62), home runs (7), runs scored (36) and RBI (38). Freshman Nate Fassnacht is batting .351 and is third on the team in hits (59) and tied for third in doubles (10).

Senior Joey Bartosic has a .324 average, is second on the team in hits (61) and leads the Atlantic 10 in stolen bases (22). Junior Robbie Metz is hitting .318 and is fourth on the team in hits (55) and second in RBI (29).

Freshman Elliott Raimo and was named Atlantic 10 Co-Pitcher of the Week after a career-high nine strikeouts in a complete-game 5-0 win over Davidson last weekend. Fassnacht batted.467 (7-for-15) and hit his first career home run to earn A-10 Rookie of the Week honors.

PROBABLE STARTERS:

Game 1: RHP Tyler Zombro (5-4, 2.42) vs. RHP Brady Renner (6-4, 3.11)
Game 2: RHP Zach Mort (3-4, 5.23) vs. RHP Elliott Raimo (5-3, 3.78)
Game 3: LHP Brian Marconi (5-4, 4.63) vs. RHP Robbie Metz (0-3, 4.28)

STRIKE ZONE:

The Patriots have hit five grand slam home runs this season, third-most by any Division I team in the nation. Only Wake Forest (8), East Carolina, Morehead State, and South Alabama (6) have hit more.

Print Friendly Version