FAIRFAX, Va. – Cal Jadacki reached base five times and John Brue homered for the third time in four games as the Saint Joseph's baseball team held on for a 4-3 win over George Mason at Spuhler Field on Saturday afternoon. Pat Vanderslice allowed one run in six innings for his third consecutive win.
Saint Joseph's (9-11 overall, 3-1 Atlantic 10) loaded the bases with two out in the top of the first on a pair of singles and a hit batsman, but Jake Kalish escaped the inning with a fly ball to keep the Hawks off the board.
SJU opened the scoring in the fourth. Jadacki led off with a single before a pair of fly balls brought Deon Stafford to the plate with two out. Jadacki then stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and came in to score as Stafford ripped a single through the infield.
George Mason (9-14 overall, 1-4 Atlantic 10) drew level in the sixth. Kent Blackstone led off the inning with a triple and then came in on a wild pitch to tie the score at a run apiece.
The Hawks answered immediately in the seventh as Stefan Kancylarz led off with a double, Matt Maul drew a walk, and Brue followed with his eighth home run of the season to put SJU back on top, 4-1. The Hawks then loaded the bases with one out, but Evan Porcella recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning without further damage.
The Patriots pushed two across in the bottom of the seventh as Michael Smith and Brandon Gum notched two-out singles and Blackstone followed with a double to cut the lead to 4-3. Mason threatened again in the bottom of the eight, but Lansing Veeder fanned Smith with the bases loaded to preserve the one-run lead.
Veeder then threw a perfect ninth for his third save of the season.
Vanderslice had another strong outing for SJU, allowing one run on five hits, two walks, and four strikeouts in six innings to improve to 3-2. Mark Maksimow took the loss, allowing three runs on two hits and three walks in an inning and a third, to fall to 0-3.
The teams will play the series finale on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
