BASEBALL (10-26, 2-10 A-10) vs. JAMES MADISON (15-21, 5-7 CAA)

WHEN:  3 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 19
WHERE:  Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.
LAST MEETING:  Mason a 16-5 win over James Madison Mar. 23 in Harrisonburg, Va.
LIVE STATS:  GoMason.com  
RADIO:  GoMason Digital Network

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason baseball team returns to Spuhler Field to face James Madison on Tuesday afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.  

Mason (10-26, 2-10 A-10) is coming off a 9-3 loss at George Washington on Sunday.  The Patriots built a 3-0 lead in the top of the first but the Colonials scored nine unanswered runs on 15 hits in the game.  Mason has scored the first run in five of the last seven games overall.

Freshman Jonathan Hansen went 2-for-4 with a single, a double and drove in a run.  He has reached base in each of his last five games and has two multi-hit games in his last three games played.  Sophomore Tyler Nelin was 1-for-4 and drove in a run.  He has at least one hit in six of his last eight games.  Sophomore Garett Driscoll went 1-for-3 and also drove in a run.

As a team, the Patriots have hit 16 home runs this season.  Nelin leads the team with 4 round trippers, followed by Driscoll, who has hit three homers.

Mason now turns its attention to James Madison.  The Patriots jumped out to a 5-0 lead at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg Mar. 23 on the way to a 16-5 win over the Dukes.  Six players drove in at least one run against JMU and eight players crossed the plate for the Patriots, who finished the game with a season-high 16 hits, six for extra-bases.  Every player in the starting lineup for Mason reached base at least one time.

The Patriots scored at least one run in every inning except the first and the seventh.  Mason scored three times in the fourth inning, four runs in the fifth inning and five runs in the sixth inning.  Sophomore Timothy Turner went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored.  Freshman Greg Popatak II finished 3-for-5 with a homer and scored four runs.  Sophomore Trevor Kelly also had three hits, drove in a run and crossed the plate twice.  Hansen drove in four runs against James Madison in the win.

Mason used eight pitchers in the game and James Madison six.  Junior Tyler Kardas allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out two in his first start of the season to earn the victory.  

The Patriots and Dukes split the two-game season series last year, with each team winning at home.  Mason beat James Madison 8-5 at Spuhler Field, scoring eight runs on 11 hits.  Saul Aguilera earned the win.

The Patriots have won four of their last seven games at Spuhler Field.

SCOUTING REPORT

James Madison (15-21, 5-7 CAA) was held to just four hits in a 2-0 loss to William & Mary on Sunday afternoon.  The Dukes collected three singles and a double in the game. 

The Dukes are playing the first of four straight on the road with the stop against the Patriots.  James Madison has lost four straight road games, including a three-game sweep by Towson.  The Dukes have dropped 10 of their last 12 games away from home. 

James Madison is batting .275 as a team.  Senior Chad Carroll is hitting .413 with a home run and 15 RBIs in his 25 games this season.  Junior Zach Tondi is hitting .310 with four homers and 13 RBIs and sophomore Kyle McPherson leads the Dukes in home runs (4) and RBIs (29) in 36 games played.

PROBABLE STARTERS

George Mason:  LHP Tyler Kardas (2-0, 5.19)

James Madison:  RHP Daniel Pinson (0-3, 6.46)