Patriots' Bats Dormant in Loss to Monarchs

By Broadside Staff Writer Brandon Simmons

George Mason's baseball team suffered a 12-4 defeat at the hands of Old Dominion University at Spuhler Field Friday afternoon. The Monarchs (14-11) improved their record in the Colonial Athletic Association to 6-4, while Mason (11-13) dropped to 6-3 in conference play.

Center fielder Jimmy Miles went 4-for-6 and drove in four runs for the Monarchs. ODU left fielder Max Most drove in three runs and designated hitter David Burns tallied two for the Monarchs, who produced 17 hits on the day.

“We have all the talent in the world, we just need to be a little more consistent,” said Mason first baseman Justin Bour.

For the Patriots, their offense was generated through Bour, who drove in all four of Mason’s runs.

“Justin is a tremendous offensive player,” George Mason coach Bill Brown said. “He does exactly what you need him to do. He drives runs in, puts great swings on the ball, competes really well for his at-bats and rarely gives up an at-bat.”

After both teams went scoreless for two innings, ODU came up big in the third, scoring four runs on Patriots starter Dan Jaycox, who gave up three unearned runs. The scoring started for ODU when shortstop Gerard Hall led off the inning by advancing to second base, beating out an errant throw to first by Patriot shortstop Brent Weiss.

Two batters later, Miles hit a grounder to third baseman Mark Hill, who was called for obstruction while making his way back to third, giving the Monarchs a 1-0 lead. ODU would score again when the next batter, Most, hit an RBI single. Three batters later, Burns knocked in a two-RBI singles to give the Monarchs a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, Mason got on the board when Bour drove in catcher Chris Henderson on a grounder that cut the score to 4-1.

In the sixth inning, Mason closed the gap to two off a two-run homer by Bour. However, ODU increased their lead to 6-3 in the seventh when Burns knocked in an RBI single after Most and first baseman Bryan Cipolla hit consecutive singles. As a result of the Monarchs’ offense, Jaycox, who pitched 6 2/3-innings with six strikeouts, was replaced with reliever Shawn Griffin.

Despite the rough outing and his 0-3 start to the season, Jaycox remains optimistic.

“I just have to keep doing what I’m doing,” Jaycox said. “I’m giving good starts. I’m coming out and keeping everybody in the game. I’m happy with my approach, but I’ve got to be a little tougher out there in certain situations.”

ODU put the game away for good in the eighth inning by scoring five runs, as Miles delivered a three-run triple that just missed going over the fence.

Hudson (3-2) pitched the complete game, striking out six and giving up eight hits.
“He is probably the premier pitcher in the league,” Brown said.

Despite the loss, Mason is still in third place in the CAA, behind Virginia Commonwealth University (10-0) and James Madison University (10-3).