The Weiss Man

By Broadside Sports Editor Brian Chan

Like former major leaguer Rey Ordóñez, senior shortstop Brent Weiss is a skilled defensive fielder who will, on the rarest occasion, display his power. On last Tuesday afternoon, Weiss homered for just the second time in his career as the baseball team (20-5, 4-2) achieved 20 wins faster than any other team in school history after defeating the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers (8-10) with a 5-3 win.

Junior pitcher Kris Mengle took the hill for Mason and left with a 2-1 lead after pitching five innings, giving up one run on four hits.

Freshman designated hitter Dan Schafferman led off the sixth inning with a single and came around to score off of senior center fielder Spencer Wiggins’ bunt single. Wiggins went 3-for-5 with an RBI in the game. George Mason University finally came through in the seventh inning as junior second baseman Ryan Soares hit a one-out double off pitcher Kent Worthington (0-3) and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Sophomore right fielder Shane Davis, who hit his first career grand slam on Saturday, reached on a fielder’s choice, which brought in Soares for the go-ahead run.

Junior pitcher Jordan Flasher came in the ninth inning after the Mountaineers sat Mason down in order in the eighth inning. He allowed two batters to reach base, but he was able to induce a groundball from designated hitter Kyle Kane to end the game.

Senior pitcher Shawn Griffith (3-0) earned the win. All of Griffith’s three wins have come within the past week after picking his first win of the season against the Maryland Terrapins on March 24.

Weiss looks to continue his solid play on offense. The shortstop batted .263 as a sophomore but is currently batting over .300. He increased his walk rate from last season.