ARLINGTON, VA – George Mason was three outs away from advancing to the 2018 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship. Three outs, with a two-run buffer, and their best reliever taking the mound.
In a rarity, the Patriots could not get the job done at Tucker Field.
George Mason would fall to the top seeded Saint Louis BIllikins 5-4 in 11 innings. That is despite having more hits, fewer errors, and using less pitchers.
PITCHING WILL BE LIMITED FOR MASON ON CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY
Ryan Ricci was the hurler on to try and preserve an outstanding outing for starter Jared DiCesare. DiCesare, a sophomore, went eight innings, allowing only four hits, two runs, with six strikeouts in 91 pitches. Mason was up 4-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth and Ricci, who had the lowest ERA on the team, was looking for his fourth save.
Two singles and a hit batter would end that opportunity for the right handed senior. Garett Driscoll would allow two of those runners to come home with two bases-loaded walks. Eventually he got out of the inning and allowed the game to go to extras despite having two get all three outs of the inning with the bases loaded.
In extras Mason went 2-for-8 offensively but they never got a go-ahead run. Their short-handed bullpen did all they could, but without any offensive help late they couldn’t make it past the 11th.
Taking advantage of a lead-off double by pinch hitter James Morisano, Carter Hanford delivered the walk-off single down the left field line. It completed a two-hit, three RBI day paired with a home run in the fifth inning.
The loss officially goes to Tim Tuner (0-4), Ryan Lefner (1-4) got the win for Saint Louis after pitching the final 2.2 innings.
MARCONI PITCHES MASON TO A SPOT IN THE A-10 CHAMPIONSHIP
For George Mason (28-27), Logan Driscoll went 3-for-6, scoring two of the team’s four runs. Trevor Kelly added three hits and an RBI while freshman Daniel Brooks had two RBI knocks. They will now play later Friday evening, facing the winner of George Washington and Richmond with a berth to the championship on the line.
Saint Louis (38-18) now gets to wait to tomorrow and see which of the final three teams emerges.
