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About The Patriots
- The Patriots enter the final series of the regular season tied with VCU for the seventth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic 10 standings at 11-10 in conference play, while sitting 22-25-1 overall with a 12-11 mark at home. The Patriots are winners of four straight A-10 series, including taking two games against La Salle last weekend in Philadelphia.
- As a team, George Mason is hitting .288 over 48 games with 21 home runs and 484 runs scored. Luke Willis, one of five everyday players hitting .300 or better, leads the squad with a .365 batting average and a team-high 49 runs scored over 49 games with 29 stolen bases. Brandon Gum follows with a .350 average, 31 RBI and 32 runs scored.
- Collectively the Patriots' pitching staff holds a 5.17 earned run average over 428.1 innings with 158 walks, 322 strikeouts and an opponents' batting average of .277. Reliever Evan Porcella leads the way with a 1.96 ERA over 22 appearances, a total of 36.2 innings, with 10 walks and 28 strikeouts.
- George Mason leads the all-time series against the Minutemen 3-1 after taking two of three from UMass in the teams first-ever conference series last season in Amherst. UMass also faced the Patriots once prior to George Mason joining the Atlantic 10, a 3-1 loss in Fairfax, Va., in 2009.
In The UMass Record Book
- Following his start this past Saturday vs. Rhode Island, senior Conor LeBlanc now ranks tied for fifth all-time in UMass history for games started with 26 and also just cracked the top-10 all time in innings pitched at 228.1
- Redshirt senior Adam Picard recently broke in to UMass' all-time list for career games played and is currently ninth at 167. Picard is also in the career top-10 for at bats, fifth with 616.
Streaks
- Sophomore Dylan Morris holds UMass' longest active hitting streak going into the series at George Mason having hits in his last four contests.
- Redshirt senior Kyle Adie has reached base in seven straight and is the owner of UMass' longest hitting streak of the season, nine games. Redshirt senior Adam Picard has reached base in seven straight, as well.
Panunzio Honored As UMass Male Spring Scholar-Athlete
- Junior pitcher Ben Panunzio wasrecognized as the UMass Male Spring Scholar-Athletes during the UMass Sports Luncheon last Wednesday.
- Panunzio has excelled in his second season on the mound after a position change that moved him from catcher to pitcher between his freshman and sophomore campaigns. He has only allowed four earned runs through 21.0 innings pitched for a 1.71 earned run average.
- Panunzio, who was recognized on the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll in the fall, studies Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Cassidy Tosses Gem At CCSU
- Redshirt junior Tim Cassidy picked up his first career win in grand fashion on April 21 at Central Connecticut as the righthander hurled a four-hit, complete game shutout against the Blue Devils, striking out three and walking just one.
- It marked the first time a Minuteman tossed a complete game shutout since current Senior Andrew Grant blanked Rhode Island, 2-0, on Apr. 6, 2013.
- On April 29, despite taking a loss, Cassidy threw eight strong innings against Quinnipiac, allowing just three runs on six hits, with one walk and a career-high six strikeouts.
- In his most recent start, vs. Fairfield on May 12, tossed six scoreless innings and struck out four, while walking one, but earned a no-decision.
Holding Steady
- When it's able to gain the lead, UMass has been extremely successful holding on down the stretch this season. The Minutemen are 9-3 this season leading after six, 10-3 leading after seven and 12-2 leading after eight. In one-run games, UMass is 8-6 on the year.
Adie Enjoying A Career Year At The Plate
- Redshirt senior Kyle Adie currently leads UMass with a .340 (53-for-156) batting average with eight doubles and three triples.
- Adie has reached base in 37 of 40 games on the season, including a streak of reaching base in 11 straight, and has hit safely in 32 of 40. In addtion to leading the team in average, Adie has 14 multi-hit games on the year, a squad best, and holds a team-high .449 slugging percentage.
- In the Atlantic 10, Adie currently ranks seventhoverall in batting average and is third in Atlantic 10 play, hitting at a .410 clip over 21 conference games (34-for-83).
Sweet Relief
- Sophomore Mike Geannelis has made seven pitching appearances thus far this season and holds a 1.84 earned run average over 14.2 innings. In six outings as a reliever, he has allowed just one earned run over 9.2 innings of an 0.93 earned run average with threewalks, ninestrikeouts and an opponents' batting average of .212. He earned his first career save at Siena on April 7 and most recently collected his fourth save of the season in UMass' 4-3 win over Rhode Island last Friday.
- Junior Ben Panunzio is second on the team in appearances this season with 13 and has allowed just four earned runs over 21.0 innings for an ERA of 1.71. He has a 1-1 record and 14 strikeouts to eight walks.
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