Spartanburg, S.C. – The George Mason baseball team hammered out 10 hits against the Spartans on opening day but USC Upstate rallied twice to record a 5-4 victory at Harley Park.
On Friday afternoon Mason broke the ice in the top half of the third inning. After Michael Smith singled with two outs, Brady Acker launched a two-run homer over the left field wall to give the Patriots a 2-0 lead. Acker hit just two home runs in his 39 games last season.
The Spartans cut into the lead in the home half of the third against Mason starting pitcher Tyler Zombro. Cody Brittain led off the inning with a triple into right-center field and scored on a ground out to make the score 2-1.
The turning point in the game was the top of the fourth, when Trevor Kelly doubled and Greg Popatak II singled to start the inning. With runners on first and third and no outs, Spartan right-hander Blake Whitney wiggled out of the jam by retiring the next three Mason batters.
USC Upstate used the long ball to jump in front 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth. After a leadoff single by Charlie Carpenter, center fielder Cody Brittain hit a two-run homer. Brittain had just three home runs and 13 RBI last season.
Mason regained the lead in the seventh, when Jonathan Hansen and Michael Smith each delivered with RBI singles to make it 4-3 Patriots. Whitney again worked out of trouble by striking out the last two Patriots batters in the inning. In the game Mason hitters struck out 11 times and stranded 10 runners on base.
Trailing after the seventh-inning stretch, Jordan Miller hit a solo home run that just made it over the left field fence to tie the game 4-4 and that ended the day for Zombro. Miller hit just one round tripper last season. Evan Porcella entered the game for Mason and allowed a double to Charlie Carpenter, who would take advantage of control issues, advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring the game-winning run on a wild pitch.
Mason threatened in the ninth when Brandon Gum singled to start the inning and was moved to second by a sacrifice bunt by Smith. After walks to Acker and Kent Blackstone loaded the bases it appeared that the Patriots were in business. Spartans reliever Richie Lacell didn't allow the comeback. He put the game away by striking out Tyler Nelin and getting Trevor Kelly to pop up. Kelly finished the day 3-for-5 with two singles and a double.
For the Patriots, the top three batters in the order combined to go 5-for-13 with three RBI and two runs scored. Smith and Acker each went 2-for-4. For the Spartans, the top four hitters in the lineup were hitless (0-for-13). Brittain went 2-for-2 with a home run, triple, two runs scored and a two RBI. Carpenter was 3-for-4 and scored a pair of runs.
Zombro (0-1) allowed five earned runs on seven hits in six innings of work. Colton Chupp (1-0) worked one inning and picked up the win for USC Upstate. Richie Lacell recorded the save.
The Patriots face Kentucky Saturday, February 20 at Harley Park. Left-hander Joe Williams is scheduled to get the start for Mason with the first pitch at 12:05pm.
