April 20, 2012
FAIRFAX, VA--ODU senior Chris Baker's grandslam in the top of the 12th inning lifted the Monarchs to a 5-1 CAA victory over George Mason (25-15/11-8) Friday at Hap Spuhler Field. It was the Monarchs third straight win.
Both teams scored a run each in the second inning and from there no runs would be scored again until the 12th.
Sophomore outfielder Ben Verlander singled home Austin McGowan in the second inning to give ODU a 1-0 lead.
Mason came right back in the bottom of the second. Blaise Fernandez led off with a single, then stole second and came home on Jake Leonardo's RBI double.
Monarchs threatened in the 10th with Josh Wright on second and Josh Eldridge on first with one out,but Kalish retired both Baker and Tutwiler to get out of the jam.
In the 12th Brent Frazier led off with a walk, followed by a Josh Wright single. Sean Cabrera came in for Jake Kalish and intentionally walked Josh Eldridge to load the bases. Baker then hit his team best seventh homer of the season and school record third grandslam of the year to put ODU up 5-1. He alsohit a slam against VMI on March 13 and against Hofstra on March 23rd.
After a lead-off walk, Brandon Smith struckout Nick Allen, then got Brig Tyson to hit into a double play to end the game. This was the Monarchs seventh extra inning game this season, winning three.
Smith pitched 4.2 innings in relief, fanning four and allowing just two hits and one walk to run his record to a CAA best 7-1 mark. Freshmen Conner Overton and Greg Tomchick along with sophomore Dean Ali pitched 7.1 innings, giving up just one run.
Josh Wright led ODU with four hits in six at-bats today, followed by Josh Eldridge with three hits in five at-bats. Mason was led by Dan Schafferman and Blaise Fernandez with three hits each.
Because of bad weather coming expected in the Fairfax area this weekend, the two teams will play a Doubleheader Saturday beginning at 10 am.
ODU 010 000 000 004= 5-9-1Mason 010 000 000 000= 1-9-2
ODU Battery: Overton, G.Tomchick(4), Ali (5),B.Smith (8) and TutwilerMason Battery: Montefusco, Kalish (7),Cabrerra(12) and Leonardo
WP: B.Smith (7-1)LP: Kalish (3-1)HR- Baker (7) Grand Slam in the 12th