ARLINGTON, Va. – The Patriots took the lead on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of their series against George Washington, but the Colonials used an eight-run third inning on the way to a 14-4 win over Mason at Tucker Field at Barcroft Park.
Mason (10-25, 2-9 A-10) threatened in the first inning against George Washington starter Shane Sweeney. Sophomore Frank Sturek led off the game with a single to left field, senior Kent Blackstone walked and sophomore Garett Driscoll singled to load the bases with only one out. The Patriots came away empty when Sweeney escaped the jam with a strikeout and a fly out. It was the fifth time in the last seven games that Mason has left the bases loaded in an inning.
Mason scored the first run of the day in the second. Sophomore Trevor Kelly began the inning with a double off the base of the left field wall and moved to third on a ground out. Sophomore Michael Smith then walked to put runners on the corners with one out.
Sturek drove in Kelly from third with a perfect bunt single to give Mason a 1-0 lead. The Patriots have scored the first run in four of their last six games.
George Washington (15-21, 5-3 A-10) sent 13 batters to the plate in the third inning, scoring eight runs on three hits, five walks and an error to build an 8-1 advantage. The first eight Colonials hitters in the inning reached base against Mason starter Joe Williams before freshman Bryce Nightengale entered the game in relief.
In the fourth, the Colonials took advantage of 3 straight one-out walks by Nightengale and sophomore Ryan Ricci and scored five more runs to make the score 13-1. The big hit in the inning was a grand slam by Colonials catcher Brandon Chapman.
Sophomore Tyler Nelin connected on a solo HR to left-center field in the top of the fifth for Mason to make the score 13-2. He now leads the Patriots with four homers this season and has belted two round trippers in his last four games.
The Patriots weren't done in the fifth. Driscoll doubled to left, freshman Jonathan Hansen and sophomore Trevor Kelly walked to load the bases for freshman Alejandro Aponte with two outs. Aponte walked to force in Mason's third run of the game. With the bases still loaded, Jacob Williams entered the game in relief for the Colonials and when a pickoff attempt at second base sailed into center field, Hansen raced home from third to make the score 13-4.
The Colonials added a run in the bottom of the fifth when Mark Osis led off with a double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly for the final run of the game.
Every player in the Colonials starting lineup reached base at least once and scored at least one run in the game. George Washington scored 14 runs on eight hits. Mason scored four runs on seven hits and left 10 runners on base in the game.
Williams (1-5) allowed eight runs, five earned, on three hits in 2.0 innings and walked four. Nightengale allowed two runs on one hit and walked three in 1.1 innings. Ricci surrendered four runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of work. Evan Porcella didn't allow a hit in his two innings and Ryan Galvin tossed a scoreless inning for Mason.
Driscoll went 2-for-3 with his fourth double of the season and scored a run. Sturek finished 2-for-4 with a RBI and stole his third base of the season. Aponte was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. He has driven in two runs in his last five games. Nelin's home run in the fifth inning was the 16th homer of the season for the Patriots.
Mason will try to avoid the sweep in the series finale Sunday afternoon. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
