WILMINGTON, NC - The George Mason baseball team (1-4) fell in games to Wake Forest and UNCW on the first day of the Hughes Bros. Challenge in Wilmington, NC on Saturday.
Mason played Wake Forest (3-2) in the first of two games on Saturday, falling 9-3 at a contest played at Legion Stadium. The Patriots took the field two hours later at Brooks Field, home of the UNCW Seahawks where UNCW came back to defeat the Patriots 12-8.
The Patriots were able to take the lead first in both games, going ahead 1-0 in the top of the first against Wake Forest. Luke Willis was hit by a pitch to begin the game, stole second base, advanced to third on a ground ball and scored his fourth run of the season on fielding error.
Wake Forest answered back in the bottom of the frame with one run and put on two more in the third before it chased Tyler Zombro from the game in the fourth inning, scoring four in the frame for a 7-1 lead. Zombro ended the day with six runs allowed on nine hits.
Mason was able to put up one more run in the top of the fifth and in the top of the eighth but it was not enough to slow down Wake Forest who scored two more as well for a final score of 9-3.
The Patriots jumped out strong once again against UNCW, plating four runs on three hits in the top of the first inning. Nick Gallo and Trevor Kelly each had two RBI in the inning with a back-to-back single and double, respectively. Mason made it a five-run game in the top of the second when Tyler Nelin scored on a wild pitch after reaching base with a single.
John Williams made his second start against the Seahawks, lasting 5 2/3 innings and giving up 10 hits and five runs, two of which were earned. UNCW scored two runs in the bottom of the second and three in the bottom of a sixth to make it a one-run game after six innings, 6-5.
The Seahawks were able to break the game open in the bottom of the eighth, scoring seven runs on seven hits to take the lead for the first time, 12-6. Mason tallied two in the top of the ninth but fell short, ending the game 12-8.
The Patriots are scheduled to play one more game in the Hughes Bros. Challenge against Western Carolina on Sunday, February 22. Game time is slated for 11 a.m. For any updates, go to GoMason.com or follow Mason baseball on twitter @MasonBaseball.
