The Patriots won three of four games at home last week to improve to 24-21 overall, 10-11 in the Colonial Athletic Association. George Mason defeated nationally ranked Delaware Friday, 9-8 in 10 innings, then took two of three games from CAA foe Old Dominion over the weekend. The Patriots lost the first game of a doubleheader Saturday, 8-6, before winning the second, 2-1 in eight innings, then they won Sunday, 3-2.
George Mason currently sits in fourth place in the CAA at the end of its conference schedule. Richmond (sixth at 7-10) and William & Mary (eighth at 6-11) meet May 8-9 in the final CAA series of the season. If Richmond sweeps the Tribe, the Spiders would be the fourth seed and the Patriots fifth in the CAA Tournament, set for May 13-17 at Grainger Stadium in Kinston, NC. Anything less than a Richmond sweep leaves George Mason fourth and East Carolina fifth and makes them first-round opponents.
The victory over Delaware (ranked 23rd by both USA Today/Baseball Weekly and Collegiate Baseball) Friday was George Mason's first over a ranked opponent since a 10-1 victory over Virginia Tech on April 7, 1992. Junior Jody Rutherford (Fairfax HS), who was 2-3 on the day and had tied the game at 8-8 in the eighth inning with his third home run, drew a bases-loaded walk in the 10th to gain the victory. Junior Chris Aronson earned his first victory as he worked his way out of jams in the last two innings.
In the first game against Old Dominion Saturday, the Monarchs cruised into the eighth inning with a 7-2 lead before George Mason scored four runs to close the gap to 7-6. Sophomore Trevor Haas (South Lakes HS), junior Mike Colangelo (Hylton HS), freshman Greg Filson (DeMatha HS) and senior Rick Visconti each drove in runs in the inning, but it was as close as the Patriots would get. Colangelo belted a two-run homer, his sixth, in the bottom of the fourth to put the Patriots on the board. Junior Shawn Camp (Robinson HS) took the loss as he fell to 4-4.
Junior Andy Devitt's two-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning gave George Mason the victory in the second game against the Monarchs. Patriot sophomore Mike Huller (2-4), who allowed just hits over the final two innings, got the win in relief of junior Tom McGinn (Lake Braddock HS), who allowed five hits, walked two and struck out six in six strong innings.
Freshman Chuck Freeman (Fairfax HS) scored from third on a wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give George Mason the victory Sunday. Freeman (2-4) opened the bottom of the ninth with a drive to left-center field that dropped for a double, and he went to third one out later when Haas beat out an infield hit. One out later, the first pitch to Filson (2-4) got away for a wild pitch and Freeman scored.
George Mason scored first with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Devitt singled, went to third one out later on a single by freshman Mark Gibbs (2-4) and scored on Freeman's single. Gibbs later scored as Haas beat the throw to first on a potential double play before Old Dominion tied the score with two runs in the top of the sixth. Freshman Derek Ashcraft had an outstanding game as the starter, allowing five hits in seven innings while walking three and fanning six. Aronson (2-1) got the win as he allowed one hit and struck out two over the final two innings.
Colangelo, who was ranked fifth in the nation last week with an average of 0.17 triples per game (seven in 40 contests), continues to lead the Patriots with a .390 batting average, 16 doubles, seven triples and 56 RBI while adding six home runs. Filson, who batted .533 (8-15) last week, is hitting .387 with 27 RBI, and Haas checks in at .357 with four homers, 28 RBI and a team-leading 10 stolen bases. McGinn (4-2) leads the starting pitchers with a 3.74 earned run average and Ashcraft (4-0) has a 3.82 ERA, while Camp (4.24 ERA) paces the club with 70 innings and 66 strikeouts.
George Mason travels to Towson State Wednesday for a 3 p.m. contest, then returns to Spuhler Field to host George Washington in a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. The Patriots are scheduled to finish the week against George Washington at Barcroft Park in Arlington Sunday in a single game at 1 p.m.
Baseball Contact: Ben Trittipoe (993-3263)