FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason baseball team used a six run fifth inning to power past Bryant, 12-3, on Sunday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

Bryant scored a single run in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead, but the Patriots responded with a run of their own in their half of the third inning to pull to within one, 2-1. With two outs, senior third baseman Brig Tison doubled and was followed by an RBI double to center from senior outfielder Dan Schafferman, driving home Tison. 

Mason took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, driving in six runs to go ahead, 7-3. The Patriots started the inning with three consecutive hits, as sophomore shortstop Jordan Hill singled up the middle and junior second baseman Chris Cook doubled to leave runners at second and third. Tison stepped to the plate and hit a hard single up the middle, scoring Hill while advancing Cook to third. Schafferman followed with an RBI double to right field, scoring Cook and advancing Tison to third.

After sophomore outfielder Blaise Fernandez struck out and sophomore first baseman Mick Foley flied out to center, Helgeson hit a two-out, two-RBI single to left field, driving in Schafferman and Tison. Junior outfielder Nick Allen then reached on an error by Bryant shortstop Dan Muscatello, putting runners on first and second. Senior catcher Jake Leonardo hit a double to the left field gap, clearing the bases for the final Mason runs of the inning.

The Patriots added two runs in the seventh, as Foley scored on a throwing error by Bryant pitcher  Salvatore Lisanti and Leonardo drove in Helgeson with a sacrifice fly to left field, extending their lead to 9-3.

The final Mason runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the eighth, giving the Patriots the final 12-3 margin. Much like the fifth inning, Mason opened their half of the inning with three consecutive hits, including a two-RBI double from Fernandez that scored Schafferman and Tison. Helgeson drove in the final run of the game as he singled down the left field line to score Fernandez.

Schafferman had a strong showing at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored. Tison finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Helgeson went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and 3 RBI's and Leonardo added three RBI's of his own while going 1-for-3 at the plate.

Senior A.J. Johnson (1-2) earned his first win of the season, going 5.0 innings with eight hits, three earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts. Sophomore Jake Kalish threw 4.0 innings of the relief, giving up just one hit while striking out three for his second save of the season.

Craig Schlitter took the loss, working 5.0 innings with 10 hits, seven runs (three earned), one walk and five strikeouts. BU third baseman David Soltis had the best day at the plate for the Bulldogs, going 3-for-4 with two RBI's.

The Patriots return to action on Tuesday, traveling to Mt. St. Mary's for a 3:00 pm contest.