BASEBALL vs. Towson
WHEN: Wednesday, March 7
WHERE: Spuhler Field | Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (2-8), Towson (2-7)
LIVE VIDEO ($) |
LIVE STATS
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team plays a mid-week, non-conference game against Towson on Wednesday, March 7 with the first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.
Mason (2-8) swept a doubleheader from Fairfield on Sunday, winning game one 7-5 and claiming the nightcap 7-1 to take two-of-three games in the series against the Stags.
"We had two great starts," Mason head coach
Bill Brown said. "The identity that you want to establish as a baseball team is that you pitch every day and play defense. We did that and it's no coincidence that we got two wins. We also capitalized on our opportunities with a big inning in the first and second game."
Mason redshirt-junior
Bryce Nightengale went five innings to earn his first win of the season in game one, while sophomore
Jared DiCesare tossed six innings to pick up his first victory of the year in game two. Senior
Ryan Ricci recorded the first save of his collegiate career over the weekend.
"It's not easy to sweep a doubleheader," Brown said. "This is the first time since the season started that everybody has a smile on their face. We're going to move forward in a positive manner and that's the most important thing."
Redshirt-junior
Brady Acker batted .500 (6-for-12) with a home run, double, three RBI and four runs scored in three games against Fairfield. He was named College Sports Madness Atlantic 10 Baseball Player of the Week.
Mason sophomore
Logan Driscoll is hitting .444 (16-for-36) and leads the Patriots in hits (16), doubles (3), RBI (8, runs scored (9) and slugging percentage (.528). On the mound, junior
Zach Mort (0-1) has started three games and has a 2.95 ERA.
The Patriots lead the all-time series against Towson 38-37-1. The teams split two games last season.
The Tigers scored 10 runs in the first inning and defeated the Patriots 14-2 on April 4, 2017 at Spuhler Field in the first meeting. Mason scored 10 runs on 10 hits in a 10-6 win on May 2, 2017 at Schuerholz Park in Towson, Md.
SCOUTING REPORT
Towson has a 2-7 overall record. The Tigers are 1-2 at home and 1-5 on the road so far this season.
The Tigers scored seven runs over the last four innings to rally from a 6-1 deficit to earn an 8-7 win over Albany on Sunday at Schuerholz Park. Sophomore Bo Plagge went 3-for-4 with two RBI including a two-out single in the ninth that drove in the winning run.
Junior Richie Palacios is batting .400 (14-for-35) and leads the team in hits (14), home runs (3), doubles (6), RBI (11) and runs scored (10). Sophomore Andrew Cassard is hitting .292 (7-for-24) and is second on the team in hits (7) and RBI (5).
On the mound, senior David Marriggi has a 1-0 record with a 2.35 ERA in three starts. He has surrendered four runs over 15.1 innings.
STRIKE ZONE
There are 46 four-year colleges or universities that use the nickname Tigers, the second-most used in college sports, only behind the nickname Eagles (76).
PROBABLE STARTERS
LHP
Brian Marconi (0-0, 6.00) vs. RHP Bo Plagge (0-1, 8.59)
