BASEBALL at Maryland
WHEN: Tuesday, April 25 | 4 p.m.
WHERE: Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium | College Park, Md.
RECORDS: Mason (16-22, 7-5 A-10), Maryland (16-23, 3-8 BIG TEN)
LISTEN
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team is set to play a pair of midweek non-conference games. The Patriots face Maryland on Tuesday with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium in College Park, Md.
Mason (16-22, 7-5 A-10) will then return home to play Mount St. Mary's on Wednesday, with the first pitch slated for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.
The Patriots fell 1-0 in 12 innings at VCU on Sunday at The Diamond in Richmond, Va. Sophomore
Jared DiCesare allowed just three singles over a career-high 10 innings pitched in a no-decision. It's the longest outing by a Mason pitcher this season.
After allowing a single in the first and two singles in the third, DiCesare retired the next 22 batters he faced in the game. He struck out seven without a walk and threw a first-pitch strike to 27 of the 32 batters he faced in the game.
DiCesare was named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week on Monday. He's the second Mason pitcher to earn the honor this season, joining
Zach Mort.
Mason has a team batting average of .260 through 36 games. Sophomore
Logan Driscoll leads the Atlantic 10 in average (.371) and is second in the conference in hits (56). He ranks eighth in the A-10 in doubles (11) and is ninth in the conference in RBI (30).
Nelin is hitting .340 (32-for-94) and is tied for fourth on the team in hits (32). He has at least one hit in 10 of his last 12 games.
Senior
Trevor Kelly is batting .322 (49-for-152) and leads the team in home runs (4) and is second in hits (49) and ranks ninth in the A-10 in RBI (30). He has hit safely in five straight games.
Junior
Alejandro Aponte is batting .275 (33-for-120) and is third on the team in hits (33). He has a six game hitting streak.
On the mound, Mort (4-2, 2.36) is second in the A-10 in innings pitched (68.2) and strikeouts (81). He ranks seventh in the conference in ERA (2.36). Senior
Ryan Ricci (3-2, 2.49) is fourth in the A-10 in appearances (18).
The Patriots are 27-22 all-time against the Terrapins. Last season, Mason scored all eight runs over the first three innings in an 8-5 win over Maryland on April 12, 2017 at Spuhler Field.
SCOUTING REPORT
Maryland has an overall record of 16-23, including a mark of 3-8 against BIG TEN opponents. The Terrapins are 8-13 at home, 6-10 on the road and 2-0 in games played at a neutral site.
Purdue swept three games from the Terrapins over the weekend at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium in College Park, Md. The Boilermakers won the first game of the series 7-1, the middle game 4-3 in 11 innings and claimed the finale 8-6.
The Terrapins have dropped six straight and nine of their last 11 games.
Maryland is batting .233 as a team. Junior Nick Dunn is hitting .340 (50-for-147) and leads the team in hits (50), home runs (7) and RBI (26). Senior Kevin Biondic is batting .274 (40-for-146) and is second on the club in hits (40), home runs (5) and RBI (21). Senior Zach Jancarski has a .252 average (35-for-139) and leads the team in doubles (11).
STRIKE ZONE
Mason has won four of the last five and seven of the last 10 games against Maryland. The Patriots have won each of their last two games played against the Terrapins in College Park by a single run, recording a 7-6 win on April 3, 2012 and a 3-2 victory on March 26, 2013.
MASON PROBABLE STARTER
RHP
James Price (2-0, 5.09)
