FAIRFAX, Va. - Late-inning dramatics followed the George Mason baseball team for the second-consecutive day but this time the Patriots couldn't complete the rally, dropping a 5-3 decision to Fairfield in extra innings on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

With the loss in its first extra-inning outing of the season, Mason fell to 5-4 overall while the Stags improved to 3-2. Sean Cabrera (0-1) took the loss in relief and FU's Mike Wallace (1-0) earned the win.

With one out in the top of the 11^th, Fairfield connected on two consecutive singles before Dean Sadik was intentionally walked to load the bases. Rob LoPinto stepped to the plate and drove in what proved to be the winning runs with an RBI single through the left side to put the Stags up, 5-3.

The Patriots wouldn't go down without a fight, as Gum led off the 11^th with a single to center. Nick Allen grounded into a fielders choice and Fairfield picked up the forceout of Gum at second, but Tommy Vitaletti singled and both he and Allen advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch. FU intentionally walked Tucker Tobin to load the bases for Blaise Fernandez, who lined out to third to end the game.

It was a pitching duel to start the game, as Mason starter Jared Gaynor limited the Stags to just two hits with three strikeouts over the first five innings.

The scoreboard remained blank until the bottom of the fourth, when the Patriots finally but a run on the board. Duncan Satherlie led off with a walk and after an out, Fernandez reached and Satherlie advanced to third on a throwing error by Fairfield third baseman Jake Salpietro. Leemhuis then hit into a fielders choice to the third baseman who went to second for the force out, allowing Satherlie to cross home for a 1-0 lead.

Gaynor sat down his first two batters in the sixth, but three consecutive singles by the Stags helped a run cross the plate and tie the game at 1-1. Mason responded in the home half of the sixth, as Tucker Tobin knocked his fourth home run of the season to left field to put the Patriots back in control, 2-1.

Another home run, this time by Fairfield's Ryan Plourde, tied the game at 2-2 in the eighth before an RBI single by pinch hitter Mike Bennett put the Stags ahead, 3-2. However, Mason answered in the home half of the inning with back-to-back doubles by Tobin and Fernandez to again knot the score at 3-all, setting up the extra-inning dramatics.

Gaynor threw seven strong innings for Mason, scattering seven hits and allowing just one run with no walks and four strikeouts. Cabrera threw 2.2 innings of relief in taking the loss, giving up two runs with a walk and four strikeouts.

Tobin and Gum both finished 2-for-4, while Fernandez was 3-for-6 with an RBI. LoPinto led Fairfield with a 3-for-6, two RBI showing.

The Patriots and Stags match up for the final game of this series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.