Baseball

Mason drops series rubber match against JMU, 5-2

You’d expect the rubber match of a series between two rivals to be an exciting, edge-of-your-seat slugfest, right? Sunday’s series finale between George Mason University and James Madison University, not so much.

The Patriots’ (11-12, 4-5 CAA) struggles on offense continued for the second straight game, dropping the series to JMU in a 5-2 bore-fest.

The Dukes (13-9, 6-2 CAA) continued to produce on offense, thanks for a multi-hit game from four different players.

James Madison's five-run ninth inning downs the Patriots, 11-4

The old adage says “when it rains, it pours,” and that seemed to be the theme for the game between George Mason University and James Madison University on Saturday afternoon.

The Patriots (11-11, 4-4 CAA) fell to the Dukes of JMU, 11-4 in what was a bipolar-type game for both sides.

JMU (12-9, 5-2 CAA) earned their 11 runs thanks to a six-run third inning and a devastating five-run ninth inning. The Patriots scored on a Tommy Vitaletti three-run homerun in the third inning, followed by a Ray Toto solo shot in the fourth.

Huskies' late-inning runs down the Patriots, 12-5; losing skid at five straight games

Hands in his jacket pockets and an agitated look on his face, George Mason baseball coach Bill Brown was visibly frustrated by his team’s effort following a 12-5 home loss to Northeastern University Friday afternoon. The loss was the team’s fifth straight and in each of those games the Patriots have stranded at least 10 base runners.

Mason stretches losing streak to four games with 7-5 home loss to Richmond

When George Mason freshman shortstop Brandon Gum grounded out in the ninth inning to end Wednesday’s game against Richmond, he stranded redshirt junior Josh Leemhuis, the tying run, on first base. It was a common occurrence for the Patriots in a 7-5 loss at home to the University of Richmond.

The loss extended Mason’s losing streak to four straight games and it was the second loss in as many days to the Spiders (14-3), the other coming on a 11-2 throttling at Pitt Field in Richmond on Tuesday night.

Mason baseball wraps up weekend series with 7-4 win over Fairfield

The theme for Sunday’s game between George Mason and Fairfield seemed to be “anything you can do, I can do better” as both teams battled in the series finale at Spuhler Field.

When Fairfield would score in the top half of the inning, Mason would respond. Fairfield would set down the side in order, and Mason would do the same. In the end, Mason came out on top to beat Fairfield 7-4 in what was a back and forth matchup all day long.

An Interview with Baseball Coach Bill Brown

(Photo courtesy of Mason Athletics)

Prior to boarding the team bus and heading south to Charleston, S.C. for The Citadel Memorial Challenge, George Mason baseball coach Bill Brown, entering his 33rd season, sat in his office looking over some papers in preparation for the 2013 season.

For Brown, who has coached the Patriots to 873 wins throughout his tenure, the expectations for the upcoming season were the same as they have been in years past.

Mason baseball routs Iona, 12-3 in first home game

The George Mason baseball team opened their first home series against Iona University (1-3) on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field in Fairfax. But the frigid, and at times, icy conditions didn’t cool down the hot bats of the Patriots (1-3), who collected 13 hits and scored a season-high 12 runs to defeat the Gaels, 12-3.

Mason junior pitcher Anthony Montefusco made the start, allowing one run on four hits through five innings while striking out seven.

With Mason baseball's first home series this weekend, Coach Bill Brown weighs in on the 2013 season

Baseball opens their home schedule Friday vs. Iona University (Photo courtesy of Mason Athletics).

Prior to boarding the team bus and heading south to Charleston, S.C. for The Citadel Memorial Challenge, George Mason University baseball coach Bill Brown, entering his 33rd season, sat in his office looking over some papers in preparation for the 2013 season.

For Brown, who has coached the Patriots to 873 wins throughout his tenure, the expectations for the upcoming season were the same as they have been in years past.

Spuhler Field, Field House renovations set in motion to break ground in late spring

The West Campus Connector is not the only construction that will be taking place on George Mason University’s West Campus in the coming months. According to a Fairfax Campus advisory group meeting on Dec. 12, 2012, facility projects to renovate Spuhler Field, the baseball stadium, and the Field House, the intercollegiate sports complex, are set to begin in late spring.

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