ARLINGTON, Va. - The George Mason baseball team registered 10 hits but stranded 16 runners, while George Washington put up seven runs on 10 hits over the first three innings en route to defeating the Patriots, 10-2, on Tuesday afternoon at Barcroft Park.

With the win, the Colonials improved to 14-22 overall and evened the home-and-home series between the two squads after Mason earned a 5-4 win earlier this season. Mason fell to 25-13 overall.  

Starting strong out of the gate, the Patriots loaded the bases with no outs in the first. However, the threat ended as senior designated hitter Zack Helgeson popped out and redshirt sophomore Josh Leemhuis grounded into a double play.

The Colonials drove in two runs in the home half of the third inning, putting a runner on second before connecting on three consecutive RBI singles up the middle to take a 2-0 lead.

Cutting the home team advantage to one run in the top of the second, junior outfielder Nick Allen lined an RBI single up the middle to bring in a run and leave the scoreboard at 2-1. However, GW responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the frame, as first baseman Derek Brown hit an RBI single up the middle and catcher Jimmy Best drilled a two-RBI single to center field, extending the Colonial lead to 5-1.

Building on the lead, GW received a solo home run from designated hitter Owen Beightol and an RBI double from second baseman Ollie Mittag in the third inning, pushing the Colonial advantage to 7-1.

Mason added a run in the top of the fourth as Allen reached on a fielders choice, advanced to third on a single by senior outfielder Dan Schafferman and eventually scored on a wild pitch in what proved to be the final Mason run of the game to leave the score at 7-2.

GW added three more runs off of the long ball, as Hickey hit a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth and Best lined a two-run shot to right field in the bottom of the sixth for the final 10-2 margin.

Schafferman held the hot bat for Mason, going 3-for-5 on the day. Allen finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and one run scored, while Leemhuis was the only other Patriot to finish with more than one hit with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Starter John Williams (3-2) took the loss, lasting just 1.2 innings and surrendering five runs on seven hits. Branden Bartlett (3.1 IP, 4H, 3R), Neight Hoffa (2.1IP, 3H, 2R) and Jake Kleine (0.2IP) all appeared in relief for the Patriots.

Best finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate for GW with five RBI's and one run scored. Starter J.T. Wauford (3-3) earned the win after five innings of work, giving up two runs on eight hits with five walks and one strikeout.

The Patriots return to action tomorrow, hosting Longwood at 3:00 pm.