Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, DE – The University of Delaware baseball team got an outstanding performance from its pitching staff for most of the game, but George Mason matched the Hens pitch-for-pitch and eventually used five runs in the last two innings of play to squeak out a 5-2 victory during Colonial Athletic Association action at an overcast Bob Hannah Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Brian Rorick (at right) fired 5.1 innings of scoreless ball for Delaware (15-26, 7-14 CAA), but he was out-dueled by Mason’s Dan Gerjets, who allowed two runs in 8.1 innings of work to pick up his fifth victory of the season.

After seven scoreless innings of play, George Mason (22-21, 14-8) was the first to get on the board as the team plated a single run in the eighth. The Patriots put their first two batters on base as Justin Bour walked and Scott Krieger singled. Following a sacrifice bunt by Josh Steinberg, the Hens intentionally walked Mark Hill to load the bases. Unfortunately, with no margin for error, David Slovak walked Brent Weiss to bring in the first run of the game.

The Hens tried to answer in the bottom of the eighth, but the George Mason defense flashed some leather to put Delaware down in order. After Gerjets got Ryan Reed to ground out to third, Chris Nehl ripped a pitch to the hole between third and short. Although the ball seemed destined for the outfield, Hill made a great play, diving to his left before regaining his footing and catching the Hens’ designated hitter by a step at first.

One batter later, Bour made an equally great play at first to put the Hens away. Olson smoked one of Gerjets’ offerings down the first base line, but Bour waved at the rocket and just caught it in his webbing before beating Delaware’s leftfielder in a foot-race to the bag for the final out of the inning.

After providing the defensive highlights, Bour and Hill came through at the plate in the top half of the ninth. Following a walk to Ryan Soares, Bour ripped an RBI double to right field that added the Patriots’ first insurance run. Hill then followed with a two-run single before coming home himself after stealing second and scoring on a single by Weiss.

The Blue Hens scratched together a rally in their last trip to the plate when Todd Menchaca led off with a pinch-hit single, moved to second on a walk to Kyle Davis, and scored on a hit by Josh Dean. Following another walk, Ryan Cuneo lifted a sacrifice fly to left that plated the last run of the game.

Ryan Brecko picked up his second save of the season after recording the final two outs of the game. Slovak suffered the loss after allowing five runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of relief.

Despite taking the loss, Slovak was an important factor in keeping the game scoreless when he came out of the bullpen in the sixth. After speeding through the Patriot order during the first five innings of play, Rorick found himself in a jam in the sixth. The righty walked Justin Bour and Scott Krieger to start the inning before inducing a groundout that moved the runners to second and third.

With only one out and two runners in scoring position, the Hens chose to intentionally walk Hill to load the bases and ensure a force out at every bag. The decision worked to perfection after Delaware brought in Slovak, who got Weiss to hit a dribbler back to the mound that the Hens quickly turned into a 1-2-3 double play to end the threat.

Although pitching dominated the afternoon, Cuneo continued his torrid streak at the plate, roping a second-inning single to right that extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

The Blue Hens will return to action on Tuesday when they host Rutgers at 3 p.m.

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