The Patriots won two of six games last week to see their overall record fall to 12-15. George Mason lost at Navy Wednesday, 5-3, before taking two games at home from New York Tech, 6-3 on Thursday and 11-1 on Friday. The Patriots then were swept in a Colonial Athletic Association series at William & Mary over the weekend, losing 3-2 on Saturday and 5-1 and 10-7 on Sunday as their CAA record dipped to 2-7.
Senior Drew Johnson made his first career start at Navy Wednesday after 41 relief appearances and allowed just two hits through six innings before tiring in the seventh. The Midshipmen scored two runs in the seventh to pull within 3-2, then added three in the eighth against freshman Michael Steller (0-2), who took the loss.
The Patriots rebounded at Raymond H. "Hap" Spuhler Field Thursday to defeat New York Tech as they scored two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth to snap a three-game losing streak. Junior Jody Rutherford (Fairfax HS) singled to drive in junior Chris Martine in the fourth inning to give George Mason a 3-0 lead before the Bears rallied with two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the score. With two outs in the seventh, Patriot freshman Greg Filson singled and scored on a double by junior Trey Mosgovoy, who then scored on a pinch-hit single by sophomore Scott Morrison. Rutherford added the final run in the eighth as he laid down a bunt single and later scored on a single by junior Mike Colangelo (Hylton HS). Freshman Derek Ashcraft (1-0) earned the victory with two solid innings in relief of freshman starter Jesse Lipcius, who allowed just three hits, walked two and struck out three in five innings in his first collegiate start. Junior Chris Aronson struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth to post his second save.
George Mason made it two in a row Friday as freshman Kevin Kawecki pitched his second straight complete game. Kawecki, who pitched a five-hit shutout in a 7-0 victory over Connecticut in his last start March 17, allowed just seven hits, walked none and struck out seven as he improved to 3-1 and won his third straight decision. Sophomore Trevor Haas (South Lakes HS) led George Mason's 15-hit attack with three hits, while Col ~hmen Filson, Mark Gibbs and Chuck Freeman (Fairfax HS) each had two hits.
Junior Shawn Camp (Robinson HS) pitched well in Saturday's game at William & Mary, but two home runs by the Tribe's Randy Leek (the second with two outs in the bottom of the nnth) proved to be too much. Camp (2-2) allowed just six hits, walked one and struck oour in his first complete game of the season.
William & Mary's Andy Cook took a no-hitter into the seventh and final inning of Sunday's first game of the doubleheader before Colangelo broke it up with a triple and scored on Filson's sacrifice fly. The triple was Colangelo's fifth of the season and 12th of his career, setting a George Mason record. Senior Scott Lavender (3-2) pitched his third straight complete game in taking the loss.
In the second game Sunday, the Patriots rallied from a 6-4 deficit to take a 7-6 lead in the sixth inning on a two-run home run by Haas. The Tribe, however, came back with two runs in the seventh and o#a in the eighth to make a loser of sophomore Mickey Garofalo (W.T. Woodson HS) in his first career decision.
Colangelo leads the Patriots in nearly every offensive category, including batting (.379), doubles (9), triples and runs batted in (30). Haas is batting .336 and leads the team with eight stolen bases, while Morrison checks in at .329 with 17 RBI. Lavender paces the starting pitchers with a 3.66 earned run average, and Kawecki has a 3.72 ERA.
George Mason visits Virginia Tuesday for a 3 p.m. contest, then goes to Maryland Wednesday for a 2:30 p.m. matchup before travelling down Route 123 to meet the Prince William Cannons, the Class A Carolina League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in an exhibition game at Pfitzner Stadium. The Patriots return to CAA action this weekend as they host UNC Wilmington, with a doubleheader Saturday at noon and a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Baseball Contact: Ben Trittipoe (993-3263)