BASEBALL vs. Massachusetts
WHEN: Friday, April 27 (3 p.m.) | Saturday, April 28 (2 p.m.) | Sunday, April 29 (1 p.m.)
WHERE: Spuhler Field | Fairfax, Va..
RECORDS: Mason (16-22, 7-5 A-10), UMass (11-19, 4-11 A-10)
LIVE VIDEO ($) |
LIVE STATS
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team returns to Atlantic 10 play this weekend, hosting Massachusetts for a three-game series beginning Friday at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va. The first pitch for game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.
The Patriots had their midweek games against Maryland and Mount St. Mary's cancelled due to inclement weather.
Last time out, Mason (16-22, 7-5 A-10) 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 third in the conference in hits (56). He ranks 10th in the A-10 in doubles (11) and RBI (30).
Senior
Tyler 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), is second in hits (49) and ranks 10th 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 4-6 in 10 all-time meetings against the Minutemen. The two teams last met on the final weekend of the 2016 season, with UMass earning a sweep in the three-game series. The Minutemen took game one 2-1, the middle game 2-1 and claimed the finale 4-2 at Earl Lorden Field in Amherst, Mass.
SCOUTING REPORT
Massachusetts has an overall record of 11-19, including a mark of 4-11 against Atlantic 10 opponents. The Minutemen are 3-8 at home, 2-6 on the road and 6-5 in games played at a neutral site this season.
La Salle took two of three games against UMass last weekend, with all three games decided by one run. The Minutemen claimed the first game of the series with a walk-off 3-2 victory before falling in the final two games, 5-4 and 4-3.
The Minutemen have dropped 13 of their last 15 games.
UMass is batting .247 as a team. Sophomore Eddy Hart is hitting .303 (37-for-122) and leads the team in hits (37), doubles (8) and home runs (3). He has at least one hit in 16 of his last 18 games, including his first three NCAA home runs.
Junior Ryan Lever is batting .288 (36-for-125) and is second on the team in hits (36) and RBI (15). Sophomore Nolan Kessinger has a .275 average and leads the club in RBI (19).
On the mound, junior Justin Lasko (3-2, 2.98) leads the team in innings pitched (51.1) and strikeouts (34). He tossed his second career complete game on Friday in UMass' 3-2 victory over La Salle. Sophomore Carter Knapek (2-1, 3.63) is tied for the team lead in appearances (12) and saves (2).
STRIKE ZONE
Mason has faced UMass 10 times in program history, with nine of the meetings as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
In the only non-conference game between the two teams, the Patriots defeated the Minutemen 3-1 on March 16, 2009 at Spuhler Field. Justin Bour, now with the Miami Marlins, provided all the offense for the Patriots with a solo home run and a two-run double.
PROBABLE STARTERS
RHP
Zach Mort (4-2, 2.36) vs. RHP Justin Lasko (3-2, 2.98)
RHP
Bryce Nightengale (3-4, 4.31) vs. RHP Sean Harney (1-0, 3.34)
RHP
Jared DiCesare (2-5, 4.53) vs. LHP Brooks Knapek (2-4, 5.19)
