The Patriots swept three games from Charleston Southern last weekend in Charleston, SC. George Mason won on Friday, 18-7, then took both games of a doubleheader Saturday, 12-6 and 9-3, to improve to 4-2 overall.
In Friday's first game, George Mason scored three runs in the seventh inning and six in the eighth to break the game open. Trailing 4-3, the Patriots took the lead for good with three runs in the fifth as junior Mike Colangelo (Hylton HS) and senior Rick Visconti drove in runs. Colangelo hit a two-run home run, his first of the season, in the seventh to give the Patriots an 8-4 lead, then George Mason batted around against three Charleston Southern pitchers in the eighth as it scored six runs and took a 15-4 lead.
Colangelo was 3-4 with three runs batted in, and senior J.K. Ronay (Robinson HS) added three hits while Visconti, freshman Greg Filson (DeMatha HS) and junior Chris Martine each had two hits in George Mason's 17-hit attack. Junior right-hander Shawn Camp (Robinson HS) earned his first victory of the season with six solid innings and tied his career high with 11 strikeouts.
The Patriots again came from behind in both games Saturday to complete the sweep of the Buccaneers. In the first game, Charleston Southern took a 6-4 lead into the fifth inning before George Mason broke open the contest with four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. At the plate, sophomore Scott Morrison (Good Counsel HS) was 3-5, while Ronay, Colangelo, Visconti and junior Lee Kansteiner (Robinson HS) each added two hits. Junior right-hander Tom McGinn (Lake Braddock HS) improved to 1-1 as the winning pitcher, and freshman right-hander Kevin Kawecki earned his first collegiate save with three solid innings of relief.
In Saturday's second game, Buccaneer starting pitcher Peyton Warren did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, but the Patriots scored four runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to break open a 2-2 tie. Offensively, Colangelo (three RBI) and sophomore Trevor Haas (South Lakes HS) each had two hits, while sophomore Mike Huller (1-1) was the winning pitcher.
Colangelo currently leads the Patriots with a .550 batting average, two triples and nine RBI. Ronay is batting .348, Morrison and freshman Chuck Freeman (Fairfax HS) each are at .333, and junior Trey Mosgovoy is batting .316 with a team-high two home runs and five RBI. With 15 strikeouts thus far in two outings this season, Camp has moved into eighth place on George Mason's all-time list with 112 and McGinn (10 this season) is 10th with 103.
George Mason opens its home schedule this week with four games at Raymond H. "Hap" Spuhler Field. The Patriots game with Maryland scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed due to rain, but Holy Cross will be playing on Thursday, 2:30 p.m., before C.W. Post comes calling Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at noon.
Baseball Contact: Ben Trittipoe (993-3263)