March 29, 2002
FAIRFAX, VA, March 29, 2002 ... George Mason junior lefthander John Sterling pitched a seven-hitcomplete game to lead the Patriots to a 5-1 victory over Old Dominion in a Colonial Athletic Association baseball game Friday afternoon at Raymond H. "Hap" Spuhler Field. It was the CAA opener for both teams.
George Mason won its fourth straight game to improve to 11-15 overall, 1-0 in the CAA, while OldDominion lost for only the third time in its last 10 games as it fell to 12-12 overall, 0-1 in the CAA.
Sterling (3-2) won his third straight decision as he allowed just one earned run, walked two and struckout a season-high eight as he tossed George Mason's first nine-inning complete game of the season. He got out of a two-on, no-outs jam twice -- in the second and fourth innings -- without allowing a run, and allowed just one run after loading the bases with none out in the sixth. Monarch senior Jared Musolf drove in the lone ODU run with a ground out in the sixth.
Meanwhile, Old Dominion freshman Justin Verlander (4-2), who allowed six hits, walked four and struck out six in pitching his fourth complete game, kept the Patriots in check until Mason scored three runs in the fourth inning, two on a single up the middle by junior Kevin McNeil and another on a single by sophomore Nick Shimer. McNeil (three RBI) laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to get the Patriots an unearned run in the sixth and senior Adam Shorts scored another unearned run in the seventh as he stole third and trotted home as the catcher's throw sailed into left field.
George Mason and Old Dominion continue the three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m., with the final game set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
LINESCORE
Old Dominion (12-12, 0-1)000 001 000 -- 1 72George Mason (11-15, 1-0)000 301 10x -- 5123Verlander and Oehler, Sterling and Anderson.WP - Sterling (3-2). LP - Verlander (4-2).HR - None.