NORFOLK, Va. – It took extra innings to settle the final CAA game for both the George Mason Patriots and Old Dominion Monarchs, but it was ODU that picked up a 5-4 win with a walkoff single by Ben Verlander in the bottom of the 11th.
The win improved ODU to 26-22 overall and 15-12 in the CAA, while the Patriots fell to 17-33 overall and ended their final season in the CAA 7-20. Sean Cabrera took the loss (0-3) in his longest relief outing of the season, and ODU's Tommy Alexander earned the win to even his record at 3-3.
With neither team ready to leave the CAA after nine innings, the game was sent to extras. It was a quiet 10th inning, but ODU got the 5-4 walkoff win in the bottom of the 11th. With one out Perez drilled the ball down the left field line, and Derek Evans mishandled an infield hit by Sizemore to leave two runners on. Tyler Urps singled through the left side and it looked like Perez was going to be sent home, but he was held at third to load the bases for Myers, who struckout swinging. It was Verlander who came up big for the Monarchs, hitting a walkoff single to right field, securing the 5-4 win.
Denting the scoreboard first in the top of the second, Patrick Esposito led off the inning with a bloop single to left and advanced to second as ODU's Josh Eldridge mishandled the hit for an error. Moving to third on a groundout from Duncan Satherlie the next at-bat, Esposito then crossed home plate as Jordan Hill delivered a sacrifice fly to left center to put the Patriots ahead, 1-0
The Monarchs brought in their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth as Jordan Negrini hit an RBI infield single to score one run and tie the game, 1-1.
Taking back the lead in the top of the sixth, the Patriots loaded the bases with one out for Anthony Montefusco who hit an RBI groundout to bring in one run and put the Patriots ahead, 2-1. Esposito then stepped to the plate and hit a perfectly placed single just inside the line in right field, scoring two more to pad the Mason advantage, 4-1.
ODU cut the Mason advantage in half in the home half of the sixth, putting two runners in scoring position before Michael Perez drove in a run to leave the scoreboard at 4-2.
Continuing to chip away at the lead in the seventh, Connor Myers and Verlander connected on back-to-back triples to score a run before Eldridge tied the game with an RBI sacrifice fly to center, bringing the score even at 4-4 and sending it to extra innings.
Mason starter John Williams worked six strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Mark Maksimow allowed the tying runs in one inning of work, and Tyler Mocabee faced three batters in the eighth before being replaced by Cabrera, who allowed an unearned run on three hits with two walks and a strikeout.
Esposito led the Mason offense with a 3-for-5, two RBI showing at the plate.
ODU's Tommy Alexander picked up the win after throwing the final 4.0 innings, allowing just one hit with five strikeouts. Verlander finished the day 2-for-6 with two RBI's.
The Patriots return to action on Tuesday, hosting UMES at 3:00 p.m.
