A Rookie's First

Photo by Russell Osbourne.

By Broadside Staff Writer Brendan Murphy

The baseball team (21-5, 4-2) extended the nation’s longest active home-winning streak to 17 straight with a 6-1 victory over the visiting Georgetown Hoyas (10-16, 3-3) on the first day of April.

“Our pitching has been outstanding day in and day out. We struck out 17 and walked one,” said Head Coach Bill Brown. “Those are just astronomical numbers. When you’re in a game and you’re trying to get 27 outs and 17 of them never get put in play you’re going to win the baseball game.”

Freshman pitcher Ryan Pfaeffle (1-0) struck out 10 of the Hoyas’ batters in 5-1/3 innings to earn his first collegiate win. He gave up only one run on five hits and one walk.

After three scoreless innings, the Patriots’ bats got to work in the fourth. Junior catcher Chris Henderson hit a one-out single and scored on a double from senior left fielder Scott Krieger to right center field. Junior second baseman Ryan Soares hit a sacrifice fly to put the Patriots up 2-0.

The Hoyas scored their only run in the top of the fifth when designated hitter Dan Godefroi led off the inning with a solo home run.

Krieger’s team-leading ninth home run of the season, which sailed over the fence in center field and gave Mason the 4-1 lead.

“We were trying to be more selective this year than other years and trying to swing at good pitches,” said Krieger. “Having Henderson in front of me this year batting mid .400s has really helped me out getting on.”

“I think I am sitting back more on change-ups and off-speeds trying to drive the ball the other way,” said Henderson.

The Patriots have reached 21 wins faster than any team in school history and are one shy of Mason’s record of 18 straight home victories.