FAIRFAX, VA (March 24, 2001) -- Old Dominion scored three runs in thefirst inning and two in the ninth and held off a George Mason rally in thebottom of the ninth to defeat the Patriots, 5-4, in a Colonial AthleticAssociation college baseball game Saturday afternoon at *Hap* SpuhlerField. The Monarchs are now 11-15overall and 4-1 in the CAA,while GMU is 8-13 overall and0-2 in the CAA.
It was ODU's third straight win and fourthstraight league win on the road.
The Monarchs scored three unearned runs in the top of the first inning asfreshman Mark Michael(Gibbstown, NJ.) and sophomore John Oehler (Audobon,Nj.) had back-to-back doubles and junior Jeff Eure (Pillow,Pa.) followedwith a single.
The Patriots made it 3-2 in the bottom of the third as junior StephenJohnson (3-5, 3 RBI) hit a two-run home run, his third of the season.
The game settled into a pitcher's duel from there, with George Masonsophomore Chris Murray (0-1) retiring 15 straight batters until Euresingled and junior Travis Silver (Weaverville, NC) hit a two-run homer, histhird of the year, with two outs in the ninth.
George Mason scored twice in the bottom of the ninth as senior EddieJordan drove in a run with a groundout and Johnson brought home anotherwith a single, but it was not enough as Old Dominion sophomore KevinEvans(Shamong,NJ.) got junior Brian Anderson (2-5) to fly out to end thegame for his third save.
George Mason and Old Dominion conclude their three-game series at SpuhlerField Sunday at 1 p.m.