ARLINGTON, Va. – The Patriots scored three runs in the top of the first on Sunday afternoon, but George Washington completed a three-game sweep over Mason with a 9-3 win at Tucker Field at Barcroft Park.
Mason (10-26, 2-10 A-10) dented the scoreboard in the first inning, sending eight batters to the plate against Colonials' starter Brady Renner. Freshman Caleb Walls led off the game with a walk and sophomore Michael Smith followed with a free pass to put runners on first and second with no outs. Both runners moved up a base after an error on a pickoff attempt at second.
Sophomore Tyler Nelin ran the count full, then drove in the first run of the day with a single through the left side, with Walls coasting in from third to put Mason in front 1-0. Garett Driscoll also singled in a run, with Smith scoring from second base to make it 2-0.
After Nelin advanced to third on a fly out, freshman Jonathan Hansen sent a RBI single through the left side to increase the lead to 3-0. The Patriots scored in the first inning for the 12th time this season.
George Washington (16-21, 6-3 A-10) answered quickly in the home half of the first against Mason starter Brian Marconi. The first six batters reached base and the Colonials scored three runs on two singles, a double and were helped out by a Mason error to even the score 3-3.
The Colonials loaded the bases in the second inning with three straight singles and took a 4-3 lead when Driscoll was called for catcher interference, with Eli Kashi scoring from third on the play. The bases remained loaded with no outs, but Marconi was able to limit the damage with a fly out and some help from the defense when freshman Alejandro Aponte started a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
In the fifth, the Colonials scored four runs on three singles and a double. George Washington put runners on first and second and scored a run on an error to increase the lead to 5-3 before senior Mark Maksimow was summoned from the bullpen. The Colonials added three more runs in the inning to make the score 8-3.
George Washington loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff walk and two infield singles. Sophomore Saul Aguilera put a stop to the threat with a strikeout and a pop out.
The Colonials tacked on a run against freshman Zach Mort in the eighth inning for the 9-3 final. George Washington scored nine unanswered runs in the game and Colonials reliever Luke Olson allowed just three hits over 8.0 scoreless innings for the win.
Hansen went 2-for-4 with a single and a double and drove in a run. Driscoll and Nelin each had a RBI single in the game.
Marconi (0-3) allowed six runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings. Maksimow surrendered two runs on three hits in 0.1 innings. Aguilera went 2.1 innings, allowing two hits. Mort allowed one run on two hits in an inning of work.
Mason is back on the diamond Tuesday against James Madison at Spuhler Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
