FARMVILLE, Va. – The George Mason baseball team took an early 5-0 lead, but a six run sixth inning for Longwood put the hosts ahead as they went on to win, 9-5, on Wednesday afternoon at Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville.
The Patriots lost a lead for the third-consecutive game, falling to 12-17 overall with its fifth-consecutive loss. Longwood battled back for the win, improving to 14-16 on the season.
Mason jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. Tommy Vitaletti led off with a single and Duncan Satherlie walked for Tucker Tobin, who worked the count full before executing a hit-and-run with a single just inside the left field line to score Vitaletti and put the Patriots up, 1-0. Two batters later Josh Leemhuis hit an RBI double that fell in front of LU's right fielder Brandon Delk, bringing home Satherlie and Tobin and extending the Mason lead to 3-0.
Mason added another run in the top of the third. With one out Tobin and Blaise Fernandez connected on back-to-back singles and advanced 90 feet on a groundout by Anthony Montefusco. Leemhuis registered his third RBI of the game with an infield single to score Tobin and put the Patriots ahead, 4-0.
Mason tacked on another run in the sixth on an RBI double from Andrew Sable to go up, 5-0, but the Lancers stormed back in the home half of the inning to take the lead. Neight Hoffa came on in relief of Kendrick and gave up a triple, five doubles and a single, allowing six runs to score and give Longwood the lead, 6-5.
The Lancers added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh as Scott Burkett singled to right, bringing in a run and leaving the scoreboard at 7-5. Increasing its advantage in the eighth, Longwood loaded the bases with one out for Alex Owens, who lined a single into right field, scoring two runs to put the Lancers ahead, 9-5.
Mason Nick Kendrick had a strong showing, working 5.0 innings and allowing just one hit with six strikeouts in the no decision. Hoffa dropped to 0-2, giving up six runs on six hits. Offensively, Leemhuis went 2-for-4 with three RBI's and Fernandez extended his on-base streak to 29 games with a 3-for-5 showing at the plate.
Longwood starter Joe Manion lasted 4.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Reliever Dylan Caruso picked up his first win after throwing 2.2 innings with one run on three hits and three strikeouts.
The Patriots return to conference action this weekend, traveling to face Delaware.
