THOMASVILLE, NC – The George Mason baseball team split the series-ending doubleheader with Marshall on Sunday, winning the first game 6-4 before dropping the rubber match of the series, 9-6.
With the Sunday games the Patriots move to a record of 4-7 this season while Marshall moves to 6-8 after winning two of three this weekend.
John Williams made the start and recorded his third win of the season in game one of the day, exiting the game with a 6-3 lead after six innings pitched. The senior allowed three runs on seven hits and recorded four strikeouts as he improved to 3-0.
It was another strong start for the Patriots, scoring once in the first and piling on the remainder of their runs in the second. Trevor Kelly's RBI single scored Brandon Gum to begin the scoring in the first. The Thundering Herd answered back in the top of the second, scoring three runs on two doubles for the 3-1 lead.
The Patriots quickly responded in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs on two hits. After tying the game up at three runs apiece Kent Blackstone broke the game open on his third homerun of the season, scoring Gum and Luke Willis on a ball that sailed over the right field fence to make it 6-3.
Marshall added its final run in the top of the seventh on a solo homerun. Saul Aguilera struck out the side in the eighth after allowing a leadoff walk and Tyler Tobin earned his first save of the season by closing out the ninth.
The second game of the day was tied on four different occasions and saw the use of 12 pitchers. Brandon Gum started the scoring for Mason after taking a pitch to the back with the bases loaded to make it 1-1. Marshall went back on top in the top of the third on a two-run homerun via the bat of TJ Diffenderfer.
Willis and Kelley each went 3-5 in the second game of the afternoon, Willis finishing the day a combined 6-8 at the plate to go with two stolen bases. Mason evened the score at three in the bottom of the fourth after Michael Smith and Willis teamed up for back-to-back doubles and Blackstone scored Willis on a fielders choice groundout.
Kalish started the game and received a no-decision after tossing six innings and allowing four runs on eight hits. With a 6-3 lead in the top of the seventh, Marshall was able to put up four runs in the frame and add one more in the eighth for the 9-6 final.
The Patriots are scheduled to host their first game of the season on Thursday when Yale visits at 3 p.m.
