Down on the Board: Mason Baseball

By Broadside Sports Editor Eileen Brown
Photo by Broadside Photographer Peter Flint

The George Mason University Patriots lost 6-3 to Richmond on Wednesday at Spuhler Field; they gave up three runs in the top of the ninth inning.

Left fielder Scott Krieger had four of Mason’s 10 hits as he went 4-for-5 at the plate. Mason second baseman Ryan Soares had two RBIs, while first baseman Justin Bour’s 13-game hitting streak came to an end.

The Patriots fell behind early after Spiders’ catcher Evan Stehle hit a two-run home run.

The Patriots came back to tie the game at 2 after Mason catcher Josh Steinberg and Soares hit singles, while center fielder Spencer Wiggins and third baseman Mark Hill were walked.

In the fifth inning, the Patriots were able to briefly take the lead after Krieger and designated hitter Shane Davis singled, which was followed by a grounder hit by Steinberg that sent Krieger home.

Richmond came back to tie the game at in the sixth, as a pair of wild pitches from Mason’s bullpen allowed the Spiders to score the tying run.

Despite the loss to Richmond, Mason improved to an overall record of 15-18 and a 9-6 mark in CAA play after tallying a 7-6 win over Hofstra in the first of a three-game series with the Blue Hens on Friday in Hempstead, N.Y. Bour and Krieger each had three hits against Hofstra, while Hill went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs.

In the first inning, Mason took a 3-0 lead after Soares hit a single and Wiggins and Bour were walked, loading the bases for the Patriots. After Bour was walked, Krieger hit an RBI single, followed by a two-run single by Hill, as both found a gap in the Blue Hens’ defense in left field.

In the second inning, Hofstra answered back, scoring all six of their runs on back-to-back singles and a three-run home run by catcher Elliot Hagburg.

Throughout the game, Mason’s starting pitcher Dan Jaycox kept his composure, as he went six innings with no earned runs and nine strikeouts.

Mason climbed back into the game after Henderson started the third inning with a double. Henderson was eventually driven in after Bour and Davis hit successive singles.

Mason tied the game in the seventh as Hill drove in two runs after hitting a double to left field.

Bour scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth on a throwing error by left fielder Mark Stuckless.

Ryan Brecko pitched the final three innings, improving to 4-1 on the year.