Georgetown pitcher Beau Hall stood alone in disbelief.
Taking the mound with a 5-4 lead in the ninth, Hall was tasked with mowing down the middle of the Patriots’ offense.
Instead, on a rally started by Chris Cook, he suffered his second loss of the season.
Now 18-11 on the season, Mason has an off day on Thursday before hosting St. Bonaventure’s this weekend.
St. Bonaventure’s at a glance
Hosting Niagara for a mid-week doubleheader, the Bonnies took one of two to push their record to 7-18 on the season.
While the second game, a 12-7 victory, provide plenty of offensive fireworks to include a 10-run third inning, it was the school’s shocking 8-7 victory over St. Louis that is the highlight of the season so far.
After a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in 13 innings in the season opener, the Bonnies’ conference record dropped to 0-6.
The residual effects from the painful loss were evident in the series finale (the second game was rained out) as the Billikens jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead.
But the Bonnies slowly chipped away at the lead before Brett Heath’s sac-fly in the bottom of the ninth gave the program its first A-10 victory since last May.
Dylan Dunn, junior, has been the Bonnies’ top run producer so far this season with a team-high 20 RBIs.
Tyler Bell, junior, has also been a menace at both the plate and on the basepaths this season. He leads all Bonnies with 20 runs and 11 stolen bases.
Connor Grey (1-5, 5.12 ERA, 28 K), Asa Johnson (1-3, 4.35 ERA, 11 K) and Joel Rosencrance (2-4, 5.40 ERA, 27 K) are expected to start on the bump over the weekend.
Mason at a glance
While the Patriots secured their 18th victory of the season in dramatic fashion, they are just 3-3 in their last 6 games.
One day before defeating Georgetown, Mason was shutout 11-0 by a visiting Maryland squad that had been ranked earlier in the season.
Entering play against St. Bonaventure’s though, Mason is looking for consistency to ensure it stays near the top of the A-10 standings (currently third with a 5-2 record).
First baseman Mick Foley, who knocked in five runs against George Washington last weekend, could become the eighth Patriot with 10 RBIs this season. He currently has nine.
Another name to keep tabs on at the plate is Chris Cook. The senior is just seven hits away from becoming just the 31st player in program history with 170 career.
He is also tied for the most hit by pitches in the nation with 18.
The starting trio of Anthony Montefusco, Jared Gaynor and John Williams are expected to take the mound again this weekend.
Montefusco and Gaynor each have sub-1.60 ERAs in conference play and Williams allowed only two runs in his last start against George Washington.
Mason Stat Leaders
Average: Brandon Gum (.333)
Hits: Josh Leemhuis (36)
Homeruns: Chris Cook (3)
RBIs: Blaise Fernandez and Luke Willis (20)
Stolen Bases: Luke Willis (13)
Wins: Anthony Montefusco and Jared Gaynor (5)
ERA: Jared Gaynor (1.06)
Strikeouts: Anthony Montefusco (47)
Saves: Mark Maksimow (5)
