BASEBALL vs. Manhattan
WHEN: Saturday, Mar. 9 (2:30 p.m.) | Sunday, Mar. 10 (11 a.m./2:30 p.m.)
WHERE: Spuhler Field | Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (6-4), Manhattan (3-6)
ALL-TIME SERIES: Mason leads, 2-1
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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team hosts Manhattan for a three-game series beginning Saturday, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Spuhler Field.
Last time out, Mason (6-4) built a 7-4 lead over James Madison but fell to the Dukes, 10-7, on Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg, Va.
Junior
Logan Driscoll went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and scored two runs. Sophomore outfielder
Scott Morgan was 2-for-4 with a run scored, while sophomore second baseman
Daniel Brooks finished with two hits and also crossed the plate.
Redshirt senior outfielder
Brady Acker leads the team in average (.316) in seven games played. He is third on the club in runs scored (7) and is tied for second in walks (9).
Senior third baseman
Greg Popatak II is batting .243 and leads the team in RBI (9). He is tied for first on the squad in hits (9) and doubles (3).
Driscoll is hitting .231 and leads the team with three home runs. He has hit a home run in each of his last two games. Driscoll is tied for first on the team in hits (9) and tied for second on the club in RBI (8).
Mason took two-of three from Princeton in the first home series of the season. The Patriots have won their last seven three-game series at Spuhler Field dating back to May 18-20, 2017.
SCOUTING REPORT
Manhattan has a record of 3-6 through nine games. The Jaspers are 3-4 on the road and 0-2 in games played at a neutral site.
The Jaspers dropped two-of-three against George Washington last weekend at Barcroft Field in Arlington, Va.
The Colonials swept a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 2, winning game one in 11 innings, 7-6 and game two, 18-7. The Jaspers won the final game of the series on Sunday, Mar. 3, 12-8.
Manhattan hit four home runs over the three games against George Washington.
Freshman Nick Cimillo leads the team in average (.444), hits (16), home runs (2), runs scored (8) and multi-hit games (6). He was named MAAC Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week after going 7-for-11 and hitting safely in all three games at George Washington.
Manhattan graduate student Shawn Blake is second on the club in average (.351) and hits (13). He leads the team in doubles (5) and walks (6) and is tied for second in hits (7).
Junior starter T.J. Stuart (1-1, 6.30) was selected as a 2019
Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-American Third Team. He finished his sophomore campaign in 2018 with a 6-2 record and led the MAAC with a program record 10 saves.
STRIKE ZONE
Mason is facing Manhattan in a three-game series for just the second time in program history. The Patriots took two-of-three from the Jaspers Mar. 13-15, 2015 at Spuhler Field. Mason won the first two games of the series, 3-1 and 11-1, while Manhattan claimed the series finale, 6-1.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Saturday: Mason Jr. RHP
Jared DiCesare (1-2, 4.60) vs. Manhattan Sr. RHP Ryan Takacs (0-2, 9.69)
Sunday (Gm. 1): Mason Fr. RHP
Nick Zegna (2-0, 0.00) vs. Manhattan Jr. RHP J.T. Stuart (1-1, 6.30)
Sunday (Gm. 2): Mason Sr. LHP
Brian Marconi (1-1, 4.60) vs. Manhattan Gr. LHP John Cain (2-0, 1.96)
