Justin Bour came around to score the go-ahead run on a throwing error in the top of the ninth inning to put George Mason ahead, 7-6, and Ryan Brecko struck out two batters in the ninth to lock down the victory Friday afternoon. Sophomore Elliot Hagburg had a three-run home run for the Pride. With the victory, George Mason improves to 15-18 (9-6 CAA) while Hofstra falls to (12-23, 1-15 CAA).
Bour led off the ninth with a double to left center field and Scott Kreiger followed with a sharp single to left. Bour advanced to third on the single, but did not attempt to score until sophomore Dave Cole's throw to the plate sailed to the backstop, allowing the run to come home. Junior Nick Panzarella finished the inning without allowing another run, but the damage had already been done. Sophomore John Kenny got things started in the bottom of the ninth for the Pride, singling to left field, but Brecko worked out of trouble, recording his fifth and sixth strikeouts in the process, to end the game.
George Mason scored three runs in the top of the first to take an early lead. Krieger singled home Spencer Wiggins, who had worked a walk to lead off the game, for the first run. Then, with two outs, Mark Hill hit a double down the left field line, past a diving attempt by senior Felix Adamkiewicz, to score two more and put the Patriots ahead, 3-0.
Hofstra took the lead in the second, capitalizing on two George Mason errors to score six runs. Junior Tom Legregni started things off with one-out double down the left field line and advanced to third when Adamkiewicz reached on a throwing error. Legregni scored on the ensuing play, a fielding error that allowed sophomore John Kenny to reach first. Senior Anthony Sarno continued his hot hitting with an RBI single to right field and sophomore Matt Prokopowicz followed with and RBI single of his own to tie the game at 3-3. Hagburg delivered the key blow, a towering three-run home run over the left center field fence to give the Pride a 6-3 lead. The home run was Hagburg's second of the season.
That was all the Pride could score however, as George Mason starter Dan Jaycox pitched four more innings without allowing a run before handing the ball over to Brecko, who pitched the final three innings for the victory. Meanwhile, the Patriots scored a run in the third to cut the lead to 6-4 on an RBI single by Shane Davis and tied the game, 6-6, in the seventh when Davis drove home a run with a sacrifice fly and Hill doubled home another.
Hofstra sophomore Rob Kumbatovic started the game on the mound for Hofstra, pitching seven innings and striking out nine. Panzarella came on in relief at the start of the eighth inning and took the hard-luck loss despite allowing no earned runs.
Kenny and Sarno each had two hits with a run scored and an RBI for Hofstra.
Game two of the three-game CAA series is scheduled for tomorrow at 2 p.m. at University Field on the campus of Hofstra University.
