Fourth Estate Sports Reporter Joey Jordan
Mason baseball defeated St. Bonaventure Friday afternoon at Spuhler field, 8-3. Anthony Montefusco had another solid outing but a six run bottom of the 8th is what propelled the Patriots to victory.
Montefusco scattered eight hits over seven innings pitched while allowing three runs only one of which was earned. He gave two deep fly balls in the gap to St. Bonaventure 3B Joel Rosencrance. Rosencrance accounted for two of the three RBI’s and was later intentionally walked by Montefusco to get out of an inning. Tyler Zumbro came in, in the eighth inning of the game, and earned the win while allowing no runs.
The Mason bats where silent for much of the game, being shut out through the first five innings. 3B Blaise Fernandez broke the scoring drought with a slow roller down the third base line in the sixth inning. Montefusco helped his own cause with an RBI double to left field in the seventh inning. In the eighth inning the Patriots quickly loaded the bases with a single from Fernandez, a walk from Catcher Ray Toto, and a HBP by RF Josh Leemhuis. LF Tucker Tobin, who made a diving catch earlier in the game to save two runs, walked to score Fernandez and tie the game up at three apiece. Montefusco then grounded into a fielder’s choice scoring Toto. A sharp line drive by SS Brandon Gum scored Leemhuis. A slow roller down the third base line off the bat of 1B Mick Foley loaded the bases again. Luke Willis crushed a ball to deep left center, emptying the bases and putting an exclamation point on the Mason comeback effort.
The win moves Mason to 19-11 on the season and drops St. Bonaventure to 7-19. The two teams will play again Saturday, April 12 at 2 p.m. and then again on Sunday at 1 p.m.
