Patriots Start Undefeated In Baseball

By Broadside Sports Editor Brian Chan

The Patriots soar undefeated this weekend in the beginning of a potentially solid baseball season.

May the Soares Be With You

After committing an error, which resulted in an unearned run, in the bottom of the sixth inning, second baseman Ryan Soares belted a three-run home run in the seventh inning as the George Mason Patriots (1-0) won their 2009 season opener over the USC Upstate Spartans 11-5 in Spartanburg, S.C.

Mason took a 4-0 lead after catcher Chris Henderson hit a two-run home run in the 2nd inning. The Spartans rallied to pull within one run in the sixth inning, but were unable to take advantage of a bases loaded opportunity. Relief pitcher Shawn Griffith got the Patriots out of the jam with a strikeout. After left fielder Scott Krieger was hit by a pitch and first baseman Justin Bour singled through the right side, Soares helped extend Mason's lead to 7-3 with his three-run shot. Again, the Spartans put two more runs in the bottom of the inning to close the gap to 7-5, but Mason responded in the ninth inning with four runs, one of which comes from Bour's solo home run.

Soares went 4-for-5 with three RBIs (Runs Batted In) and scored three runs. Bour and centerfielder Spencer Wiggins each recorded three hits for the Patriots as the team totaled 17 for the game. Even though starting pitcher Mike Modica (1-0) walked four batters, he allowed four hits and three runs in 5-2/3 innings. Designated hitter Jacob Breen hit a home run and right fielder Brian Dempsey went 2-for-3 for the Spartans.

Friday's win marked Mason's seventh win out of 30 contests in season openers as a Division I school.

Fire Up the Offense

Catcher Chris Henderson went 3-for-5 with an RBI double as the George Mason Patriots defeated the UNC Asheville Bulldogs 7-1 in the first game of a doubleheader. Second baseman Ryan Soares added two hits and an RBI after hitting a three-run home run in the season opener yesterday. The Bulldogs had a difficult time against the starting pitcher Kevin Crum (1-0), who struck out five batters and allowed no walks in six innings of work. The only run he allowed was unearned.

Mason's offense exploded after 13 hits in their 6-2 win to earn the sweep over the Bulldogs. Each of the first five batters recorded two hits. Left fielder Scott Krieger and first baseman Justin Bour provided the Patriots with power. After going just 1-for-8 in the first two games, Krieger tripled in his first at-bat. Krieger led off the 4th inning with a solo shot, his first of the 2009 season. Bour hit his second home run of the season later in the 6th inning. Starting pitcher Dan Gerjets (1-0) earned the win after striking out five batters.

Mason (3-0) wraps up the weekend tournament against the SIU Edwardsville Cougars tomorrow.

Strive for Five

The George Mason Patriots staged a late rally as they scored five runs in the eighth inning to defeat the SIU Edwardsville Cougars 7-6. Catcher/right fielder Dan Schafferman cleared the bases with his triple to turn a one-run deficit into a two-run lead for the Patriots.

Right fielder/catcher Chris Henderson led off the inning with a single, followed by another single from left fielder Scott Krieger. First baseman Justin Bour reached on base due to a throwing error. With the bases loaded, the Patriots recorded two quick outs before third baseman Mark Hill hit a two-run single to bring the Patriots within one run. As the bases were loaded once again, Schafferman recorded a three-bagger to give the Patriots their first lead in the game. Schafferman went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and Henderson added two more hits for the Patriots.

Pitcher Ryan Pfaeffle (1-0) pitched 4-1/3 innings, allowing four hits without giving up a run. Pitcher Ryan Brecko picked up his second save of the season the hard way. The Cougars added another run in the ninth inning, but Brecko struck out third baseman Mitch Matecki with runners on first and third to end the game.

This season, Mason (4-0) is off to a hot start after losing their first four games last season. The team heads to Jacksonville, Fla. for three more games next week before hosting their home opener against the Temple Owls on Mar. 3.