March 21, 2008

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Four Northeastern home runs, including a three-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning, helped power the Huskies past the George Mason baseball team, 10-6, in Colonial Athletic Association action on Friday at Spuhler Field. The Huskies, who were the designated home team by virtue of the series' relocation from Boston to Fairfax, improved to 8-6 (2-2 CAA), while the Patriots (7-11, 4-2) fell in conference play for just the second time this season.

Kris Dabrowiecki (1-2) pitched 5.1 innings to pick up the win, while Mason senior starter Dan Jaycox (0-2) took the loss after allowing NU's first seven runs (five earned) in four innings of work. Dan Zehr recorded the final four Mason outs to earn his second save of the season.

The Mason offense was powered by a two-hit, five-RBI day from junior Scott Krieger, as well as a 4-for-5 performance from junior Spencer Wiggins. Five of NU's starting nine recorded at least two hits, led by a 3-for-5 day by Frank Compagnone.

Mason wasted no time getting its offense going. Wiggins, the leadoff man, singled up the middle, and was followed by a base hit by sophomore Chris Henderson. With two men on, Krieger blasted a deep fly ball over the fence in left-center field to put the Patriots ahead 3-0. The home run was his team-best eighth of the season.

The Huskies responded in the bottom half when Mike Tamsin poked a base hit into left field, allowing Tony DiCesare to score from second. NU tied the contest up in the second, when James Donaldson's two-run homer left the score 3-3. The long ball continued to work to Northeastern's advantage in the third, when Lyon blasted a two-RBI home run to left center.

In the fifth inning, NU again plated two runs thanks to a line drive home run by Mike Lyon, making the score 7-3. Mason answered back in the top of the sixth inning, when Krieger tacked on two more RBIs with his double, closing the gap to 7-5.

Mason loaded the bases in the top of the eighth following a leadoff single by Wiggins, and sophomore Ryan Soares took first on a four-pitch walk, moving the Patriots within one run. However, with the bases jammed again, the Huskies managed a strikeout and escaped the inning with no further damage.

After being held without a run for nearly three innings, the Huskies found more firepower off the bat of Compagnone, whose three-run home run over the batter's eye in center field put Northeastern up 10-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Zehr, who entered with two outs in the eighth, retired the Mason ninth to pick up the save and give NU the win in game one of the series.

The two teams will continue the weekend series Saturday at 2 p.m. at Spuhler Field.