March 24, 2008

The George Mason baseball team will host the Maryland Terrapins on Tuesday afternoon as the two teams face off for the first time in more-than five years. The game at Spuhler Field is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. Mason is 20-14 all-time against Maryland.

Mason is 9-11 on the year but the Patriots have won eight of their past 13 games. The Terrapins are 11-11 and they have not won more than three straight or lost more than three straight all season. Maryland is 7-2 against Colonial Athletic Association teams this season going 3-1 against Hofstra, 0-1 against Towson, 2-0 against Delaware and 1-0 against both Old Dominion and William & Mary. The two teams share one common opponent to date - Coastal Carolina. Mason lost at Conway, S.C., 6-0, while the Terrapins dropped a pair on the road, 10-4 and 5-3.

Maryland is hitting .283 as a team with just three regulars batting better-than .300. Nick Jowers is hitting .323 with five steals, both team highs. Mike Murphy is batting .320 and his six homers and 18 runs both lead the team. Chad Durakis is batting .313 with three homers and a team-high 21 RBI.

Mason is hitting .295 as a team with four regulars batting .370 or better. Ryan Soares is batting .370 while Scott Krieger is batting .372 with 23 RBI and team highs in homers, with nine, and runs, with 27. Justin Bour leads the team with a .387 batting average along with 27 RBI. He also has eight homers and 20 runs. Spencer Wiggins is batting .313 with 10 stolen bases in 12 attempts.

Maryland will send Brett Tidball to the mound. He is 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA and he has made two starts this season with six relief appearances. He has struck out 11 and walked three in 12 and two-third innings while surrendering a .340 batting average. The Patriots will counter with Ryan Brecko who is 2-0 with a 5.56 ERA. He has 12 strikeouts and 11 walks in 22 and two-third innings. He has started four games with one relief appearance and he has held the opposition to a .241 batting average.

One other note of interest concerning Tuesday's game. Each team will have a Palumbo in uniform. Joe Palumbo is a senior for the Terrapins while Dan Palumbo is a sophomore for the Patriots. Jeff Palumbo, a former four-year star for Mason, is currently an assistant coach with the Patriots.