TOWSON, Md. - The George Mason baseball team registered 10 hits on the day but still dropped game two of the three-game series against Towson, 11-3, on Saturday afternoon at Schuerholz Park.

Unlike yesterday, the Patriots wasted no time registering a hit in the game as junior outfielder Nick Allen connected on the first pitch of the contest, lining a shot through the left side. Senior third baseman Brig Tison followed with a single through the right side, advancing Allen to third base. With senior designated hitter Zack Helgeson at the plate Tison was caught stealing second, but in the rundown Allen scored from third to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead. Helgeson put himself in scoring position with a double to left field and second baseman Duncan Satherlie walked to put two runners on basethe Mason threat was ended as sophomore outfielder Blaise Fernandez grounded out to third base.

Towson put up three runs of its own in the bottom half of the first inning to take a 3-1 lead. Designated hitter Dominic Fratantuono hit a one-out, two-RBI home run deep to right field for a 2-1 Tiger advantage. First baseman Brendan Butler followed hit a triple to the deepest part of the park in right center, and outfielder Kurt Wertz walked to leave runners on the corners. Catcher Andrew Parker then grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing Butler to score for the 3-1 margin.

Wertz drove in another Towson run in the bottom of the third, hitting an RBI double to left center, and sacrifice flies from Parker and outfielder Ben Winter  brought in two more Tiger runs for a 6-1 lead.  

The Patriots looked to work their way back into the game as Hill and Allen started the top of the fifth inning with back-to-back singles and, after Tison popped out, senior outfielder Dan Schafferman hit an RBI single to bring the score to 6-2. Helgeson recorded the second Mason out, but with runners on first and second Satherlie lined a shot to left center, brining in Allen and cutting the Towson lead to 6-3.

Just as Mason inched closer Towson put more runs on the board in the home half of the fifth inning. Wertz continued his hot hitting with an RBI triple to put the Tigers up, 7-3, and outfielder Ben Winter grounded out to first allowing a runner to score from third to extend the lead to 8-3.  

An error-filled bottom of the eighth inning allowed the Tigers to score three more runs. Three consecutive Mason errors to start the inning loaded the bases for Towson, and all three of those runs crossed the plate unearned to give the Tigers the final 11-3 margin.

Helgeson went 1-for-5 on the day, extending his hitting streak to eight games and tying his career-high. Tison also extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 1-for-4 performance at the plate.

Mason starter Ryan Pfaeffle (2-1) took the loss, going 3.2 innings with four hits, six runs, five walks and four strikeouts.

Wertz finished the day for Towson 2-for-3 with two RBI's, two runs scored and two walks.

Starter Taylor Clarke finished one out shy of earning the win, lasting 4.2 innings with nine hits, three runs, one walk and four strikeouts. Reliever Chris Acker (2-2) got the win, throwing 4.1 innings and giving up just one hit while striking out five.

The Patriots conclude their series against the Tigers tomorrow at 1:00 pm.