Courtesy of GoBonnies.com
FAIRFAX, Va. – Junior Aaron Phillips threw a complete game masterpiece for a game one win and senior T.J. Baker blasted a go-ahead home run in the ninth to complete a doubleheader sweep for the St. Bonaventure baseball team at George Mason Friday.
With the wins, the Bonnies improve to 18-14 overall and 9-5 in Atlantic 10 play while George Mason slumps to 17-23, 6-5.
GAME ONE – St. Bonaventure 2, George Mason 1 | Box Score (PDF)
Phillips threw a gem and did the rest with his bat to give the Bonnies a game one victory.
Both teams got on the board in the first inning – Phillips gave Bona an early lead with his two-out single to plate Cole Peterson for the game’s first run. That lead would be short-lived, though, as Mason responded with a run of its own for the tie in the home half of the frame.
From there Phillips and Mason ace Tyler Zombro each settled into grooves with the 1-1 tie lasting until the sixth.
In the top of the sixth, the Bonnies broke through with what turned out to be the game-winning run and fittingly it was Phillips who delivered. Ryan MacCarrick doubled to left with one out, advancing to third on a wild pitch. The Bona ace lifted a ball to right, allowing MacCarrick to tag and score for a 2-1 edge.
At one point, Phillips retired 13 of 14 Mason batters, not allowing a runner into scoring position from the second through the sixth innings.
Mason threatened in the seventh, sending a runner to third with two down before Phillips struck out pinch hitter Greg Popatak to end the threat.
The hosts put the tying run at third in the eighth and at second in the ninth, but Phillips thwarted the Patriots rally effort. After getting a runner to second with one out in the ninth, Phillips recorded strike outs eight and nine, getting Alejandro Aponte and Popatak swinging to end the game.
Phillips finished with his first career complete game, scattering five hits and striking out a career-best nine to improve to 6-0 on the year.
David Vaccaro collected two of Bona’s five hits against Zombro (4-4) who also went the distance.
GAME TWO – St. Bonaventure 7, George Mason 4 | Box Score (PDF)
The Bonnies captured a thrilling, come-from-behind win to wrap up a doubleheader sweep.
Down a run heading for the ninth, the Bonnies plated four runs on five hits to surge ahead.
Ryan O’Connor came off the bench and sent a leadoff single above a leaping Aponte at second base to begin the rally. Following a ground ball on the right side from Taishi Terashima, O’Connor stood at third with the tying run and one away.
Baker did much more than tie the game, drilling a no-doubt two-run homer to the berm beyond Spuhler Field’s left field fence for a 5-4 lead.
From there, Bona played tack-on against the Mason bullpen. MacCarrick drove home another run with a single to right center before Peterson finished the uprising with a sacrifice fly.
Bona led 3-0 after three innings before a Mason rally. Ben MacDonald started the scoring by coming through with a single to right center with two outs to plate Terashima and David Hollins. In the third, MacCarrick smacked a solo homer to left to add to the lead.
Mason tied the game with a three-run sixth, then took the lead with a run in the seventh.
Bonnies reliever Donovan Moffat (3-0) helped close the door before further damage was done in the seventh, then tossed scoreless eighth and ninth innings to earn the win with his longest career outing.
In all, the Bonnies racked up 14 hits from 10 different players. MacCarrick smoked three hits while Hollins and Terashima had two apiece.
Starter Casey Vincent worked six-plus innings, allowing four runs while striking out six.
The two teams are set to complete their three-game series Saturday at noon.
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