FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team fell behind early in a 5-2 loss in their Atlantic 10 Conference opener against Rhode Island on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
Rhode Island (7-10, 1-0) took the lead in the top of the first against Patriots starter Tyler Zombro. Derek Garadella scratched out an infield single and Chris Hess reached on an error to set the table for senior Chris Livingston, who delivered a two-out single to left field to give the Rams a 2-0 lead. Rhode Island had been outscored 10-4 in the first inning entering the game.
The Rams added another run in the second. With one out, Mike Corin was hit by a pitch and then went to third on a single by Connor Foreman. Freshman Kevin Heiss drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt to make the score 3-0.
Mason (6-16, 0-1) rallied in the home half of the third inning when sophomore Tyler Nelin singled and classmate Frank Sturek doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. Rams starter Tyler Wilson threw a wild pitch, with Nelin racing across the plate to cut the lead to 3-1. Sophomore Michael Smith made it a one-run game with a RBI groundout and the Patriots trailed 3-2. Smith has driven in a run in three straight games.
That's as close as Mason would get. The Rams added single runs in both the sixth and ninth innings for the 5-2 win. Rhode Island is 5-0 this season when leading after the seventh inning.
Zombro (1-4) allowed four runs (2 ER) on five hits over 6.0 innings in the loss. He left the game before facing a batter in the seventh. Senior Evan Porcella and freshman Jonathan Ostroff combined to pitch three scoreless innings.
Garett Driscoll, Smith and Nelin each singled for Mason. Sturek connected for a double in the third inning, the only extra-base hit of the day for the Patriots.
Wilson (4-1) scattered four hits and allowed two runs in 8.0 innings of work in the win for the Rams. He struck out nine and walked just one. Wilson retired 13-of-14 Mason batters from the third to the seventh inning. Sophomore Tyler Barss struck out two Patriots in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.
Game two of the series is Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
