Box Score
Box score
FAIRFAX, Va. – Junior
Zach Mort pitched a complete-game shutout and struck out a career-high 13 batters in the Patriots 4-0 win over St. Bonaventure in the Atlantic 10 opener on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.
Mason (8-11, 1-0 A-10) took the lead in the third inning against Bonnies starter Brandon Schlimm.
With two outs, sophomore
Logan Driscoll singled and stole second base. Senior
Trevor Kelly then delivered with a single to left-center, with Driscoll scoring to put the Patriots in front 1-0.
The Patriots increased the advantage in the home half of the fourth.
Senior
Garett Driscoll led off with a single to left and with one out, senior
Michael Smith singled to right to put runners on first and second. Junior
Alejandro Aponte then jumped on the first pitch he saw and singled to right to load the bases.
Graduate student
Frank Sturek forced in a run with a walk and freshman
Daniel Brooks followed with a single through the right side, with Smith racing home from third to make the score 3-0.
The Patriots tacked on a run in the eighth against Bonnies reliever James Wetter.
Garett Driscoll led off the inning with a single and with two outs, Sturek drove in his second run of the game to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Patriots have won eight of their last 11 games overall and improved to 6-2 at home.
Mort (3-1) tossed a complete-game for the first time in his collegiate career. He struck out 13 without a walk and scattered five singles. Mort leads the Atlantic 10 with 55 strikeouts.
"This is the first time in my life that I've had 13 strikeouts in a game," Mort said. "It feels good to get a win to start conference play."
Schlimm (0-3) allowed three runs on 10 hits and took the loss, while Wetter surrendered one run on two hits over 2.1 innings of work.
Sturek went 1-for-4 with two RBI, Kelly was 2-for-4 and drove in a run, Brooks finished 1-for-5 with a RBI and Smith went 3-for-3 and scored a run.
Mason collected 12 hits in the game, all singles. The Bonnies had just three runners in scoring position in the game.
The Patriots and Bonnies wrap up their series with a doubleheader on Sunday. The first pitch for game one scheduled for 12 p.m. at Spuhler Field.
