Fairfax, VA -- George Mason's Shane Davis went 3-4 with a game-high four RBIs and a run scored while Kevin Crum gave up just six hits in seven innings as Hofstra dropped a 7-2 decision to the first-place Patriots Friday afternoon at Spuhler Stadium.
Senior shortstop Chris Mentrasti and junior outfielder John Kenny each picked up a RBI for Hofstra in the CAA matchup. But it wasn't enough as the Pride lost its fifth game in a row, falling to 6-25 overall and 2-14 against the conference. George Mason improved to 32-8 and 12-4 against the CAA.
Spencer Wiggins scored twice and went 2-4 in George Mason's leadoff spot, supporting Crum. The right-hander improved to 6-3 after giving up two runs (one earned) before Ben Reade pitched two scoreless innings in relief. Junior righty Rob Kumbatovic allowed six runs (five earned) in five innings in falling to -3-6.
Two singles and walk allowed George Mason to start the first inning with a bases-loaded situation. Kumbatovic minimized the damage, inducing a double play and escaping the inning with just one run.
Davis extended that edge to 3-0 in the second. After a fielding error allowed the leadoff man to reach, Davis blasted a two-run home run to center. Kumbatovic settled down afterwards, tossing zeros in the third and fourth. Hofstra tried to get back in the game, breaking through against Crum in the fourth when Mentrasti's infield single scored Kenny and made it a two-run game.
George Mason put the game out of reach with a three-run fifth. Scott Krieger and Ryan Soares each lined run-scoring hits to rightfield before Davis added a RBI single up the middle. In the seventh, Davis added his final RBI with a run-scoring double down the leftfield line off reliever Anthony Gionesi to cap the scoring. Kenny added a RBI ground in the sixth to round out Hofstra's scoring.
The Pride will get another chance at the 27th-ranked Patriots Saturday in the middle game of a three-game set. Game time is 2 p.m.
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