ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The George Mason baseball team fell 3-2 to Saint Louis on Sunday afternoon, with the Billikens scoring the winning run in the seventh inning to complete a three-game sweep over the Patriots.
Saint Louis (15-13, 6-0) took the lead against Mason starter Brian Marconi in the bottom of the second when junior Trent Leimkuehler jumped on the first pitch of the inning, hitting his second home run in as many games and fifth of the season, to give the Billikens a 1-0 lead. The Patriots have allowed the first run in eight of their last 10 games.
The Patriots defense was up to the challenge in the bottom of the fourth to keep it a one-run game. Saint Louis started the inning with two singles, but Marconi was able to wiggle out of the jam. After a fly out, freshman Alejandro Aponte flashed the leather when he started a double play on a hard hit ball up the middle to end the threat.
Mason (8-20, 1-5) broke through against Billikens starter Devin Mahoney in the top of the fifth. Sophomore Frank Sturek and classmate Michael Smith both singled and after sophomore Tyler Nelin reached on a fielder's choice, senior Kent Blackstone was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs.
Sophomore Trevor Kelly then put the Patriots in front for the first time in the series, ripping a double into the gap in left-center field, with Nelin and Sturek racing home to give Mason a 2-1 lead. Saint Louis had led every inning but one in the series up to that point.
The Billikens answered quickly in the home half of the fifth. Senior Michael Bozarth singled and moved to second on another base hit. He then stole third to put runners on the corners and scored on a two-out single to tie the score 2-2.
Mason had the chance to take the lead in the top of the seventh when Smith tripled to right field and Nelin was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with no outs. The Patriots stranded both runners and the score remained tied. Mason left eight runners on base in the game.
Marconi departed after throwing 87 pitches over his 6.0 innings and gave way to freshman Zach Mort, who entered the game in the seventh inning.
Saint Louis generated a run in the seventh when freshman Cole Dubet led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored the go-ahead run on a RBI single to give the Billikens the 3-2 advantage. The Billikens collected 47 hits in the three-game series, including 11 home runs.
Saint Louis improved to 6-0 in the Atlantic 10 and is the only unbeaten team remaining in the conference. Mason fell to 1-5 against conference opponents. The Billikens improved to 11-1 at home.
Marconi allowed two runs on seven hits over 6.0 innings in the no decision. He struck out five and walked just two. Mort (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season, giving up a run on three hits in 2.0 innings. Entering the game, Mort had allowed just one hit over 5.2 innings in his last three appearances.
Smith went 3-for-5, including his second triple of the season, for his eighth multi-hit game. Sturek finished the day 2-for-4 and scored a run. Kelly was 1-for-4 with a two-RBI double.
Mason is back on the diamond Wednesday, April 6 against Towson. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.
