The only challenge for the George Mason University baseball team was playing through the inclement weather during their 17-3 trampling of Georgeown. The local contest was played at Shirley Povich Field, Bethesda Md. on the eve of George Mason entering the national spotlight with votes in the AP poll.
Georgetown starting pitcher junior Travis Danysh faced trouble early and often, beginning with his first inning walk to Bruce Balwin. He paid dearly, when the next batter Chris Looze launched a homerun to center field. The inning was not over, however, and walks continued to hurt the Hoyas. This time Danysh gave up a two out pass to Nick Shimer, which was followed by a run scoring double by Robby Jacobson down the left field line. He later came home to score the fourth run of the inning after a single by Kyle Barret to center field.
The 4-0 first inning advantage was all that George Mason needed behind the strong pitching of Josh Morrison who improved his record to six wins and one loss. Morrison hit senior Michael Lombardi with his pitch to get the lead runner on in the second inning. However, junior cleanup hitter Andrew Cleary extinguished the threat by grounding into a double play.
Unfortunately for the Hoyas, it was only then that Ron Cano got their first hit of the game. Nothing came out of the two out single as Tim Jones routinely flew out to center field to end the inning.
Morrison’s five shutout innings kept the Hoyas at bay while the visitors continued to extend their large lead. He gave up only five hits, spreading them throughout his performance and managed not to walk any batters.
Despite a quiet second inning, the Patriots put up another four spot in the third inning. Adam Innerest singled with one out and Shimer continued to make an impression upon the game with a double that scored the fifth run of the game.
After another run came across the plate, George Mason broke the game open from an unlikely source. Junior second baseman Jimmy Freund hit his first career home run-a two run shot to take go up 8-0.
At this point Head Coach Pete Wilk had seen enough. He went to his bullpen and brought in junior Tyler Abbot in favor of Danysh. Abbot gave up a two run home run to Shimer who capped off his 4 RBI day. The bomb landed deep in left field and put an exclamation point on a lowly day for the Hoyas.
The floodgates finally closed when senior reliever Tom O’Connor entered the game in the fifth inning. His uneventful inning was a welcome respite for a Georgetown team trailing 10-0.
The break was brief however, as the George Mason bench players came on to further terrorize the Hoya pitching staff. Mike Genovese, Josh Campbell, and Matt Barrett all had singles of off O’Connor began the seventh with three singles in a row. The five run seventh inning. Inherst’s single scored a run highlighting a five run inning.
Georgetown finally registered their first runs in the bottom of the inning after George Mason allowed Tyler Wingerd to take the mound. Georgetown first-year Tomasso Trento singled and back to back walks put Hoyas on every base. Ryan Craft secured some respectability with his single up the middle. Kevin Giles also produced a run with a ground out to the right side of the infield. The Hoyas best moment came when Craft sent a solo home run over the fence in the bottom of the ninth.
Hoya first-year reliever Mark Dutmer provided valuable innings in relief giving up just a walk and a hit in the final two innings which kept George Mason off the scoreboard.
Yet, it was the Virginia school that completely dominated, improving its record to 28-11. Patriot hitters, Shimer and Jeff Palumbo extended their respective hitting streaks to 13 games, while the Hoyas try to figure out how to solve their pitching woes.
The chance to set things straight will come soon for the Hoyas, who take on Mount St. Mary’s in a rescheduled matchup April 29th at home.
