Blaise Fernandez had four hits Friday, including the game-winning single.
FAIRFAX, Va. -- Blaise Fernandez's fourth hit of the day, a long single to right in the 13th inning, allowed Chris Cook to come home with the winning run Friday as George Mason edged St. Louis 2-1 at Spuhler Field.
Both teams loaded the bases in the 13th, but Mason's Tyler Zombro was able to wiggle out of his jam by striking out Josh Bunselmeyer and getting Danny Mannion to fly out to right.
Chris Cook led off the bottom of the 13th with a single before Mick Foley dropped a sacrifice bunt attempt. St. Louis pitcher Matt Eckelman fielded the ball cleanly, but it slipped out of his hands on the throw to first, allowing Cook to advance to third and Foley to second. Luke Willis was intentionally walked to load the bases and Fernandez followed two batters later with a deep fly ball into right field, landing just shy of the warning track and enough to bring home Cook from third.
Eckelman worked out of his own bases-loaded situation in the 12th, picking off a runner at third and then getting a strikeout and fly out.
Zombro earned his fourth win of the season after pitching five innings of scoreless relief, allowing only four hits and striking out one. Starting pitcher Anthony Montefusco received a no-decision after throwing the first eight innings in which he allowed one run and struck out five with only his 10th walk of the season.
Eckelman took the loss for the Billikens in relief of starter James Norwood, lasting the final 6 1/3 innings and giving up the winning run. Norwood pitched the first half of the ballgame, striking out five batters and allowing eight hits.
The Green and Gold scored the first run of the ballgame in the fourth when Fernandez scored on a wild pitch after leading off the inning with a single. The senior went 4-6 in the ballgame, scoring the first run and driving in the winning run.
Cook, Ray Toto and Willis each chipped in two hits while Foley, Montefusco and Brandon Gum added one apiece to give Mason a total of 13. Saint Louis ended the game with 12, scoring what was the tying run in the top of the seventh on three consecutive one-out singles.
George Mason is now 23-15, 10-4 while St. Louis drops to 23-16, 11-4.
