May 2, 2012

Final Stats | Season Stats (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. - Maryland was held to three hits, including one over the final 5 2/3 innings, while George Mason took an early 4-0 lead and held off the Terps for a 5-3 victory and a season sweep of the series Wednesday afternoon.

The Patriots (32-17), who beat Maryland 7-6 in College Park on April 3, scored three unearned runs in the first inning to take a lead they wouldn't surrender.

Maryland (29-20) scored all three of its runs in the fourth to make it a one-run game, but Mason extended its lead to 5-3 in the fifth and held the Terps hitless over the final four innings.

Sander Beck (5-2) allowed a season-high five runs - just two of them earned - in 4 1/3 innings. It was just the second time this season that Beck, who ranks second on the team among starters with a 2.44 ERA, lasted fewer than five innings in a start.

Mason put runners on second and third after a single and a walk in the first inning, but with two outs Beck looked like he had escaped trouble. A Maryland error prolonged the inning and allowed the first run to score, though, and Mason's Josh Leemhuis reached on an infield single to drive in another.

After another infield single loaded the bases, the Patriots scored their third run of the inning on a wild pitch. An inning later, they made it 4-0 on Dan Shafferman's RBI sacrifice fly.

Maryland cut the lead to one with a three-run fourth inning in which it recorded two of its three hits in the game. K.J. Hockaday and Tim Kiene drew walks to open the frame, and Tomo Delp drove in a run with a single up the middle.

Ryan Holland singled to the gap in right-center to score Kiene, and Delp came home when Kyle Convissar reached on a Mason error. The Terps were unable to get any closer.

Consecutive singles by Mason's Brig Tison and Shafferman opened the fifth, and Tison later scored on a sacrifice fly by Blaise Fernandez.

Mason reliever Jake Kleine (1-0) earned the win after tossing 2 2/3 scoreless and surrendering just one hit. Kevin Lingerman and Sean Cabrera combined to hold Maryland hitless in the final three innings.

Jamie Pashuck and David Carroll combined for 3 2/3 innings of one-hit relief for Maryland, which dropped to 20-4 in non-conference games.

The Terps are off until Saturday, when they open a three-game series at Florida State. Game times are 1 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Monday.

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