Surging Patriots take weekend series over William & Mary

After splitting in Friday's double-header with the Tribe, the Patriots prevailed by an 8-2 margin Sunday to win the series, capturing their fourth win in their last five games (John Powell).

The George Mason Patriots (15-10, 4-5 CAA) took on the Tribe of William & Mary (16-10, 5-4 CAA) in a three-game series over the weekend in Fairfax. On Friday, the Patriots won the first of a double header 5-4, but lost the second game 6-3 later that evening.

On a cloudy Sunday afternoon, the Patriots looked to win the weekend series against their conference-rival.

Regardless of the threat of rain, senior A.J. Johnson (2-4) pitched seven solid innings for the Patriots. He allowed nine hits while striking out five en route to a Mason 8-2 victory.

“A.J. threw really well,” said Patriots Head Coach Bill Brown. “He threw 100 pitches and set up our bullpen well for the rest of the game.”

Johnson breezed through his first two innings of work relatively unscathed, but he ran into some trouble in the third.

He retired the first batter, Jackson Shaver, but then proceeded to give up four straight hits. The score stood at 2-1, Patriots.

A wild pitch in the dirt allowed junior center fielder Ryan Brown to score, which tied the game. However, Johnson managed to retire the next two batters, only surrendering two runs on four hits in the inning.

“A.J. pitched a great game,” said senior third baseman Brig Tison. “The defense played good behind him, and when we were up it was easy for him to find his grove.”

Mason broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior second baseman Chris Cook doubled to left field, and then scored on an infield single by Tison.

Senior Dan Schafferman drew a walk, and junior Tribe Matt Wainman (2-3) then hit senior Zach Helgeson to load the bases.

Wainman was relieved by Jay McCarthy, who struck out sophomore Anthony Montefusco. Junior Blaise Fernandez walked with the bases still juiced, which scored Tison. Sophomore Josh Leemhuis was then hit by a pitch, scoring Schafferman.

The score stood at 5-2.

Senior catcher Jake Leonardo then came up with the hit of the game.

“I just tried to put the bat on the ball and break the inning open,” Leonardo said. “I was looking for a fastball, but he was throwing lots of sliders.

Leonardo proceeded to hit a bases-clearing double, putting the Patriots up 8-2.

“I noticed it was a slider right away and just tried to make contact,” Leonardo said.

Leonardo’s big hit was enough to give the Patriots a comfortable lead.

“There’s a big difference between a 5-2 lead and an 8-2 lead,” Brown said. “It really finished it off for us.”

The Tribe attempted a rally in the top half of the eighth inning, but sophomore closer Jake Kalish quenched the would-be comeback.

Having won four out of their last five, this win against the Tribe gave the Patriots muc- needed momentum. Their next game is against Rider University on Wednesday.

“We did what we needed to do this weekend,” Tison said. “We’re just trying to focus on one game at a time.”