FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team, behind another quality outing by junior right-hander Tyler Zombro, defeated Richmond 3-2 in Atlantic 10 Conference play on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field in the first game of a three-game series.
The Spiders took the early lead in the top of the first inning. Michael Morman singled though the left side of the infield and scored when Kyle Adams doubled to right-center field to give Richmond a 1-0 lead. Zombro settled down and retired the next two hitters on ground outs to end the inning.
Mason (14-28, 3-10 A-10) came right back in the home half of the first against Richmond (22-17, 8-8 A-10) starter Matt Olson. Sophomore Tyler Nelin drew a one-out walk and freshman Greg Popatak II reached on an error by the shortstop, with Nelin advancing to third on the play to put runners on the corners with one out. Sophomore Garett Driscoll then singled to center, with Nelin coasting home from third to tie the game 1-1.
The Patriots took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs with two outs. With one out, Driscoll was issued one of his two free passes in the game. Senior Kent Blackstone tripled to left-center field later in the inning with two-outs, with Driscoll racing around from first to give Mason a 2-1 advantage. Freshman Jonathan Hansen then singled up the middle, driving in Blackstone to make the score 3-1.
Zombro, who tossed a complete-game two-hitter a week ago and was named Atlantic-10 Co-Pitcher of the week, was sharp again on Friday against the Spiders. After allowing the two hits in the first, he retired 16 straight Richmond hitters from the first inning through the sixth before the Spiders reached base on an error.
In the top of the seventh, Richmond collected two singles and had runners on first and second with two outs, but Zombro ended the threat with a ground out. The Spiders grounded out 13 times and struck out seven times in the game.
In the ninth, the Spiders put runners on first and second after a leadoff double and a walk with no outs. Mason freshman Zach Mort entered the game in relief. After a sacrifice bunt and a RBI ground out cut the Patriots lead to 3-2, Mort put an end to any comeback hopes for Richmond by striking out the next hitter to end the game.
The Patriots have won four of their last six games overall and are 7-6 in one-run games this season.
Zombro (3-7) allowed two runs on five hits over 8.0 innings, throwing 101 pitches, 70 for strikes. He struck out six and walked only one. In his last three starts, Zombro has struck out 21 with just the one walk. Mort retired the three batters he faced in the ninth for his third save of the season.
Driscoll went 2-for-2 with two walks, a RBI and scored a run. He has driven in a run in four of his last six games in the starting lineup. Hansen finished 2-for-3 and drove in a run. He has five RBIs in his last four games. Blackstone was 1-for-4 and drove in a run. He leads the A-10 with six triples.
The Patriots and Spiders are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday with the first pitch slated for 10 a.m. at Spuhler Field.
