March 31, 2011
Box Score | Season Stats (PDF)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Maryland jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over visiting George Mason thanks to Korey Wacker's performance at the plate and held on for a 3-2 win after Wacker moved from center field to the mound to pitch the final two innings on Wednesday night.
Wacker, a junior from Harker Heights, Texas, drove in two runs on a sacrifice bunt as part of a three-run second inning and finished the day 2-for-2 at the plate. Maryland (12-13), however, didn't score a run the rest of the way and George Mason (10-15-1) notched two runs in the seventh to make it 3-2.
Patriot catcher Jake Leonardo led off the eighth with a double and Nick Allen drew a walk to give Mason two runners on with no outs. That prompted Maryland head coach Erik Bakich to bring in Wacker, who hasn't allowed an earned run in his last seven appearances.
Wacker got the first two outs of the inning on a fielder's choice and a fly-out to center, but then issued a walk to Dan Schafferman to load the bases. He escaped the bases-loaded jam by striking out Shane Davis, Mason's clean-up batter, with a fastball on a 2-2 count, and retired the side in the ninth to earn his second save of the year.
Sander Beck (1-3) was credited with the win after pitching four scoreless innings of relief. George Mason used eight pitchers on the night with Brandon Lindsey (0-1) taking the loss after giving up three unearned runs.
In the three-run second inning, Brandon Padula, who went 2-for-2, drew a leadoff walk and after Kyle Convissar grounded out Curtis Lazar reached on a throwing error by Mason shortstop Brig Tison. Jordan Hagel followed with an infield single that plated Padula for a 1-0 Maryland lead. With Lazar on third, Hagel stole second to get into scoring position, setting up Wacker's sacrifice bunt that brought in two runs.
Rain fell throughout the game, temperatures dipped into the 30s and though there was just one error, the team's walked a combined 17 batters.
The Patriots used three walks and one hit off of Maryland reliever Charlie Haslup to put up two runs in the seventh, but freshman Brady Kirkpatrick came on with the bases loaded and no outs and preserved the lead.
Maryland plays host to No. 7 Florida State this weekend at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium. Game times are 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.
