FAIRFAX, Va. – For the second time in less than a month at Spuhler Field senior pitcher John Williams threw a complete game shutout, propelling the George Mason baseball team (23-26-1) to a 3-0 victory over UMass (15-27) on Friday afternoon.

The Patriots retake the conference lead over UMass with a 12-11 record in A-10 play and are still able to clinch the seventh and final spot in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. UMass falls to 11-12.

Williams dominated the Minutemen all afternoon, allowing only two hits that both came off the bat of Rob McLam. The Haymarket, Va. native struck out nine, including the final two batters of the day and did not walk any in the final home start of his collegiate career. His record this season improves to 7-5.

UMass starter Conor LeBlanc nearly matched Williams' performance, allowing only two hits through his first five innings and seven overall with one earned run. The Patriots cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning with the help of a crucial UMass error at shortstop. Willis would come around to score on a ground ball after reaching on a walk and Brady Acker singled home Brandon Gum with two outs for the 2-0 lead.

Williams continued to pitch strong and got an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as Acker recorded a bases loaded fielders choice groundout to score Gum for the second time and put Mason up 3-0.

Ray Toto logged two more singles in the game while Kent Blackstone, Tyler Nelin and Trevor Kelly each recorded one.

In anticipation of inclement weather, the final game of the regular season on Saturday, May 16 has been moved up to noon instead of the regularly scheduled 1:00 p.m. start time. Senior Day celebrations will take place prior to first pitch.