The George Mason University Patriots (41-10, 19-5) won in walk-off fashion as shortstop Brent Weiss hit the game-winning single to give Mason the 6-5 win over the University of Delaware Blue Hens in the first game of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament.
Weiss came off the bench in the 4th inning, and went on a tear, going 3-for-3, which included the game-winning hit. With shortstop/second baseman Ryan Soares starting at Weiss’ normal position, Head Coach Bill Brown opted to go with second baseman hitting at the No.2 slot.
The Blue Hens jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning as left fielder Bill Merkler went yard for the 16th time this season. Even though pitcher Kevin Crum settled down after the rough 1st inning, he was replaced by pitcher Ryan Pfaeffle.
Mason eventually rallied and took the lead at 4-3 in the 6th inning as pinch hitter/catcher Chris Henderson hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Pfaeffle, who pitched for 4-1/3 innings, gave up a run in the 7th inning, tying the game at 4. However, Mason regained the lead in the 8th inning as left fielder Scott Krieger hit his 19th home run of the season, a solo shot to right center field. Merkler would go deep again as he led off the 9th inning with his 17th home run to knot things up at 5.
Soares led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a single off an 0-2 pitch, and designated hitter Shane Davis doubled to put runners in scoring position with no one out. Third baseman Mark Hill, who went 5-for-13 in the series against the James Madison University Dukes, was intentionally walked after already having a hit against the Blue Hens on Wednesday, which brought up Weiss as the potential hero. On a 2-2 pitch, Weiss drove the pitch up the middle to score Soares and give Mason the win on the first day of the CAA Tournament. Pitcher Shawn Griffith (4-0) earned the win despite giving up the 9th inning home run to Merkler.
Mason will play again tomorrow against the Old Dominion University Monarchs, who lost to the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks 7-5 later in the day. The Monarchs opened CAA play this season with a 6-3 win against Mason, but Mason took two out of three as they never lost a season series to their CAA opponents this season.
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