FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team lost a pair of four run leads against Rutgers on Sunday afternoon, with the Scarlet Knights winning the finale of the three-game series 8-6 at Spuhler field. Rutgers took two of the three games against Mason over the weekend in the first-ever three-game series between the two teams.
The Patriots built a 4-0 lead in the first two innings against Rutgers starter John O'Reilly (1-0). In the first, Brady Acker singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Kent Blackstone then drew a walk. With two out, designated hitter Greg Popatak II doubled into the gap in left-center driving in both Acker and Blackstone to give Mason a 2-0 advantage. Popatak moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Tyler Nelin reached base on a fielder's choice to make it 3-0.
The Patriots added another run in the fourth to pad the lead to 4-0. With two outs, Michael Smith doubled and Acker followed with a RBI single. In the series Acker collected seven hits, four RBI and scored three runs.
Mason starter Bryce Nightengale allowed just three singles in the first two innings, but Rutgers dented the scoreboard in the third. R.J. Devish doubled to start the inning, but Nightengale retired the next two Scarlet Knight hitters. With two outs, Nick Matera walked on four pitches to put runners on the corners. John Jennings then got ahead in the count 2-0 before belting a triple to center, with Devish and Matera cruising around to score to cut the Patriots lead to 4-2.
The Patriots would get both runs back in the home half of the third inning to make the score 6-2. Trevor Kelly began the rally with a lead-off single and scored on a RBI double by Popatak, who also was awarded third base on the play on an interference with the runner call. Nelin then swung at the first pitch he saw to drive in Popatak with a sacrifice fly.
That would be all the scoring for Mason on the afternoon.
Rutgers stranded eight men on base over the first five innings, but in the sixth began the comeback against the Mason bullpen. After the Scarlet Knights loaded the bases, Nick Matera provided the big hit with a bases-clearing double to left field, driving in three to make the score 6-5.
After another Mason pitching change, Rutgers loaded the bases for a second time in the inning and Mike Martinez walked on four pitches to force in the game-tying run. The Scarlet Knights sent 10 batters to the plate in the sixth and were aided in the rally by four walks, an error and a balk.
In the seventh inning Rutgers took its first lead of the day. After a single and two walks loaded the bases for a third time in the game, Matera drove in a run with a ground out to put the Scarlet Knights up 7-6. Rutgers added an insurance run in the top of the eighth on a RBI single by Devish.
Dante Scafidi (1-0) allowed one hit in 1.1 innings to earn his first win for Rutgers. Reed Shuttle picked up the save as the Scarlet Knights bullpen tossed 6.2 scoreless innings combined.
For the Patriots, Nightengale allowed two runs on six hits over five innings in a no decision. The Mason bullpen had a tough day, allowing six runs on five hits and walking six batters in four innings of work. Evan Porcella (0-1) suffered the loss.
Popatak went 3-for-4 with three RBI and scored two runs. Jonathan Hansen, Trevor Kelly, Ryan Tassone and Acker each had two hits in the loss. Both teams left 15 runners on base in a game that lasted nearly four hours.
The Patriots continue the homestand on Thursday, Mar. 3rd when they host Cal State Northridge for one game with the first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Mason will then take on Bryant in a three-game series Friday, Mar. 4th through Sunday, Mar. 6th at Spuhler Field.
