FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team rallied from a 4-0 first inning deficit, but fell to Rhode Island 4-3 Sunday afternoon at Spuhler Field. The Rams took two of three in the first Atlantic 10 Conference series for both teams.
Rhode Island (8-11, 2-1) managed all of their offense in the top of the first inning against Mason starter Brian Marconi, with the first four batters of the game reaching base. Jordan Powell, who walked three times in the game, led off the day with a free pass. After back-to-back singles, the Rams took the lead when Martin Figueroa connected on a two-run double to make it 2-0 before the first out of the game.
The Rams added two more runs in the first inning on a pair of sacrifice flies to double the lead to 4-0. The Patriots have allowed the first run in five of their last six games.
Mason (7-17, 1-2) answered in the bottom of the inning when the first three batters of the game recorded a hit against Rhode Island starter Ben Wessel. Sophomore Michael Smith led off with a single to center and freshman Ryan Tassone followed with a double to left field. With runners on second and third and no outs, senior Kent Blackstone hit a sharp grounder to the shortstop and when the throw to first bounced away, both Smith and Tassone crossed the plate on the error to cut the Rams advantage to 4-2.
Both starters took control of the game after the rough opening frame, combining to toss six straight scoreless innings. After allowing five base runners in the first, Marconi surrendered just three hits to the next 19 batters he faced from the second inning through the seventh.
The Patriots inched closer in the home half of the eighth. Blackstone and Greg Popatak II both walked to start the inning and moved to second and third on a passed ball. With one out, sophomore Tyler Nelin drove in Blackstone with a sacrifice fly to left field to cut the Rams lead to 4-3. That would be the final run of the day. Mason is 4-4 this season in one-run games.
Marconi (0-2) allowed four runs on six hits in 7.0 innings of work. He struck out two and walked two in his longest outing of the season. Senior Mark Maksimow scattered three hits over two innings in relief for Mason. Wessel (2-2) allowed two runs (one earned) over 6.0 innings. He struck out four and didn't walk a batter. Rhode Island used four relievers over the last three innings.
Freshman Tim Quinn had two singles in three trips to the plate. Smith, Tassone and Blackstone each had a hit and scored a run. Smith reached base four times in the game (single, walk, two HBP) and has been on base 11 times in his last five games overall.
The Patriots finish their four-game homestand Tuesday, March 29 hosting Georgetown in a non-conference matchup at Spuhler Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
