April 6, 2010

Box Score | Season Stats (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. - Maryland's pitching staff held one of the highest-ranked scoring offenses in the country to just three runs, but the offense was unable to provide enough support to win, as the Terps fell 3-1 to George Mason Tuesday afternoon.

The Patriots entered the game ranked 13th in the nation in scoring with a 9.1 runs-per-game average, but Maryland pitchers held them well below that. Sander Beck, who made the start but pitched just two innings, allowed a single run in the second on an RBI triple by Christopher Cook.

Matt Fullerton took over in the third and pitched into the sixth, holding Mason hitters in check for three innings. But the lefty got in trouble in the sixth, allowing a single to lead off the inning, and then hitting Ryan Soares with a pitch.

Matthew Passauer relieved Fullerton and after a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, gave up an RBI single to Shane Davis. The Patriots added one more run when Dan Palumbo's bunt scored Ryan Soares.

Maryland's lone run came in the eighth inning. Dan Gentzler put down a bunt that caught Patriots third baseman Mark Hill off-guard, and his throw to first was errant, allowing Gentzler to reach second. Mike Rozak's sacrifice bunt moved Gentzler to third, and Jack Cleary's squeeze-bunt brought Gentzler home.

Beck (0-5) took the loss for Maryland, which fell to 12-18 this season.

Chris O'Grady (1-0) earned the win as the Patriots improved to 16-9.

The Terps are back in action Wednesday, when they play host to West Virginia at 6 p.m.