MASON TAKES JMU OUT OF CAA PLAYOFF CONTENTION WITH SWEEP

Saturday, May 21

Fairfax, Va,

TBA

James Madison University

George Mason

MASON TAKES JMU OUT OF CAA PLAYOFF CONTENTION WITH SWEEP

5/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

FAIRFAX, Va., May 21, 2005 – James Madison was eliminated from Colonial Athletic Association playoff contention Saturday with a doubleheader loss to George Mason, 7-3 and 8-2, at Hap Spuhler Field.

The Dukes dropped to 20-34 overall and to 8-15 in the CAA, while Mason upped its record to 32-17 overall and 14-9 in the league. JMU's losses coupled with William and Mary's 18-7 loss at home to Towson on Friday puts Hofstra into next week's CAA tournament with a sixth-place finish of 10-14.

Mason senior left fielder Adam Innerst (York, Pa./York Suburban) combined in the twinbill to go 4-for-6 with a pair of homers and five RBI. He hit homers in his first two at bats of the day, the second of which was a three-run loft that gave the Patriots a 6-1 lead in the third inning.

Junior left-hander Brent Hitz (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock) scattered 10 hits over seven innings in the opener to even his record to 4-4. He struck out four and walked none. Junior right-hander Jason Mills (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) inherited a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs in the eighth, and they were still standing on their respective bags when the inning ended. He notched his fifth save, fanned five, gave up one hit and walked none.

Junior first baseman Matt Bristow (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin) led the Dukes in game one by going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Sophomore shortstop Rob Altieri (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) went 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Sophomore designated hitter Dan Santobianco (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) hit his 12^th homer of the season, matching his season total from a year ago. All of his homers this season have come after April 5, a period of 28 games.

Senior Brian Leatherwood (Norfolk, Va./Granby) was hit with the loss, dropping his record to 2-3. The right-hander gave up seven runs, all earned, in 5 1/3 innings on nine hits without a walk in his final JMU appearance. He whiffed four.

Mason senior first baseman Chris Looze (Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional) clocked his 13^th homer of the season, tying the Mason career record of 45.

Junior catcher Robbie Jacobsen (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) led the Patriot charge in the nightcap, gathering in a two-run double among his three hits. Sophomore third baseman Chris Fournier (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield) cracked a two-run homer as part of a five-run outburst in the third inning.

Senior right-hander Stacen Gant (Herndon, Va./Oakton) and sophomore right-hander J.J. Pannell (Springfield, Va./Bishop O'Connell) combined on an eight-hitter. Gant was on a limited pitch count and gave up two hits and fanned four in three innings. Pannell gave up six hits, no walks and struck out four.

Junior second baseman Michael Cowgill (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) hit his 13^th homer of the year as part of a 2-for-3 outing for JMU. Freshman left fielder Joe Lake (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) also had two hits.

JMU and Mason will close out the regular season with a 1 p.m. game on Sunday.

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