The national anthem wasn't the only thing filled with rockets and bombs yesterday at Virginia Baseball Field. The Cavaliers (13-8) had an offensive explosion in their last three at-bats to defeat George Mason, 13-9.
"I think the team has a feeling that, if we're not too far behind, we can score some runs," Virginia coach Dennis Womack said. "We can generate some runs. I think offensively we feel good about ourselves from a hitting standpoint."
After giving up a run in the top of the first, the Cavaliers began their offensive explosion in the bottom of the inning by scoring three runs off Patriots starting pitcher Shawn Stiffler. Virginia first baseman Mark Rueffert drove in a run off George Mason shortstop Adam Shorts' error to even the score at one apiece. Dan Street followed with a two-run double to push the score to 3-1.
George Mason (7-11) came back in the top of the second and scored three runs against Cavalier starter Alexander "Shooter" Starr. Patriots third basemen Stephen Johnson highlighted the inning with a two-run single.
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In his first start of the season, Starr, who is 2-0 as a relief pitcher, gave up five runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings.
The Patriots pushed their lead to 9-4 after scoring four runs in the top of the sixth off Cavalier left-handed pitcher Alan Zimmerer (1-1). Shorts had a RBI double and Brian Anderson had a RBI single in the inning.
Beginning with the bottom of the sixth, Virginia's offensive juggernaut came alive. With the bases loaded, catcher Andrew Riesenfeld drove in two runs with a line drive single to center field.
Virginia loaded the bases again in the bottom of the seventh. With the diamond full, George Mason pitcher Jesse Lipcius walked the only two batters he faced as the Cavaliers cut the lead to 9-8. Rueffert and designated hitter Dan Street drove in the runs with their bases on balls.
With the bases still loaded, Virginia first baseman Robert Word pinch-hit for Riesenfeld and drove in two runs with a double that landed in the left-field warning track. Word's base hit off Patriots relief pitcher Joe Dooley gave the Cavaliers the lead for good at 10-9.
"They told me to get ready for things like that," Word said. "And when you're ready for it, you just got to go in and get the job done."
Virginia tacked on two more runs in the inning after Dooley threw a wild pitch that scored Street, and Cav center-fielder Dan Vroman hit a RBI single to center.
Virginia second-baseman Hunter Wyant continued his hot streak by hitting his third homerun in the bottom of the eighth over the left field fence. The solo shot ended the scoring in the game at 13-9.
Wyant went 2-3 in the game and scored four runs and drove in one. In his last seven games, he is batting .708 (17-24), with 13 RBIs, 15 runs scored, 4 triples, 3 doubles and 2 home runs. He was also the first Cavalier to hit for the cycle when Virginia played High Point last Monday.
Cavalier left fielder David Stone managed to push his hitting streak to 20 games with a single in the bottom of the seventh. Cavalier third baseman Jon Benick also added his ninth home run of the season with a solo shot in the third inning.
Freshman right-hander Jeff Kamrath pitched 3 1/3 innings of hitless ball to get his first win of the season.
"Kamrath's performance was so good for us because he was able to put three zeroes on the board," Womack said.
Virginia hosts another in-state foe in a rematch with Virginia Commonwealth tomorrow at 3 p.m. The Cavaliers lost to the Rams in Richmond, 7-6, on Feb. 28.
"We know VCU is going to throw their best pitcher at us," Womack said. "And we're just going to have to be ready for it"
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