George Mason took the lead in the first inning as Greg Filson scored on Brian Forthofer?s single, while Eddie Jordan, who reached on a single to extend his hitting streak to 16 games, scored on Teddy Puitz?s single. GMU added another run in the top of the third to go ahead 3-0.
The Monarchs finally got on the board in the bottom of the third as David Vilardi (Fishkill, NY) was singled home by first baseman Jared Musolf (Lakehurst, NJ). In the top of the fourth, Mason put two more runs across as Filson tripled to score Evan Howard and then later scored on Jordan?s sacrifice fly.
Old Dominion countered with three runs in their half of the fourth, cutting the lead to 5-4, as Brent Sollenberger (Chambersburg, PA) knocked in Travis Silver before Tim Hummel (Montgomery, NY) hit a two-out single that brought home Sollenberger and Jason Greiner (Wexford, PA). The Monarchs then scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh, taking the lead for good, 8-5, as Troilo?s double brought home two runs before Musolf and Troilo were walked home by GMU pitching.
George Mason rallied to put up two runs in the top of the eighth, cutting the lead to 8-7, but could not force across the tying run, giving the win to the Monarchs. Louis Mazzante (Montoursville, PA) picked up the win in relief of starter Parker Friske (Virginia Beach, VA), while sophomore Jon Tinkham (Chesapeake, VA) picked up his first save.
The two teams meet in the final game of the three-game series on Sunday at 1 pm at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
GMU 201 200 020 ? 7 15 0 ODU 001 300 40x ? 8 10 2 GMU Battery: Ashcraft, Simo (7), Murray (7) and Yeager. ODU Battery: Friske, Mazzante (4), Tinkham (8) and Silver. WP: Mazzante (2-1); LP: Ashcraft (1-4); Save: Tinkham (1)