FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team dropped game one of a doubleheader 10-1 to Richmond on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field, then blanked the Spiders 1-0 in the nightcap behind a strong outing by freshman left-hander Brian Marconi to earn the split.
GAME ONE
Mason (14-29, 3-11 A-10) starter Joe Williams and Richmond (23-17, 9-8 A-10) starter Keenan Bartlett each allowed just one hit over the first three innings of a scoreless game. Williams found trouble in the top of the fourth when the Spiders sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs on two singles and a pair of two-out doubles to take a 4-0 lead. Richmond scored three of its runs in the inning with two outs.
The Spiders tacked on two more runs in the fifth when junior Kurtis Brown smashed a two-out, two-run home run off the scoreboard behind the right-center field fence to make the score 6-0. It was his second homer of the season. Sophomore Ryan Ricci took over for Williams and recorded the final out of the inning.
In the sixth, Richmond sent 10 batters to the plate and took advantage of four walks to score four runs to pad the lead to 10-0. The Spiders had just one single in the inning, against junior Ryan Galvin, who entered the game with the bases loaded and one out in the inning.
Seven different players drove in a run and nine different players scored a run for the Spiders.
The advantage was more than enough for Bartlett, who retired 13 straight Mason hitters from the first inning until the sixth and matched the longest outing of his collegiate career.
Mason dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Alejandro Aponte reached on a fielder's choice and later scored the Patriots lone run on a wild pitch.
Williams (2-6) allowed six runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings and suffered the loss. Ricci surrendered four runs in 0.2 innings. Galvin allowed two hits in 2.2 scoreless innings and freshman Tim Quinn tossed a scoreless ninth.
Bartlett (2-4) and reliever Sean Collins held Mason to four hits in the game. Sophomore Frank Sturek went 2-for-3 with a single and a double. Freshman Greg Popatak II and senior Kent Blackstone each went 1-for-4 with a single.
GAME TWO
Mason (15-29, 4-11 A-10) had the chance to take the lead in the bottom of the first against Richmond (23-18, 9-9 A-10) starter Zach Grossfeld. Sophomore Michael Smith walked and sophomore Garett Driscoll and Popatak were both hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs, but the Patriots were unable to score a run.
In the third, the Spiders collected two infield singles with one out, but Marconi was able to wiggle his way out of the jam with two fly outs to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
The defensive play of the day for the Patriots was made by Sturek in right-center field, who used his speed to make a diving catch to deny Daniel Brumbaugh an extra-base hit in the top of the fifth inning.
Mason broke the ice in the bottom of the sixth. Popatak led off the inning with a walk, and sophomore Trevor Kelly followed with a double to center to put runners on second and third with no outs. Blackstone then grounded out to the shortstop, with Popatak racing across the plate to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead. Popatak has scored five runs in his last six games.
Richmond threatened to even the score in the seventh and eighth innings, but both times stranded the game-tying run at third base. In the seventh, Marconi ended the inning by getting the Spiders on a pop out and in the eighth senior Mark Maksimow needed just three pitches for an inning-ending strikeout.
The Spiders had one last chance for a rally in the ninth after back-to-back singles against closer Zach Mort put runners on first and second with no outs. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, an intentional walk loaded the bases. Mort then struck out the next two batters to earn his second save of the series and fourth of the season.
The Patriots have split four of the five doubleheaders that they have played this season and swept two games at Radford. Mason has won five of the last eight games overall.
Marconi (1-3) scattered four singles over 7.0 innings to earn the win. Mort, Maksimow and Marconi combined to hold the Spiders to seven singles in the game. Richmond entered the series ranked 13th in the nation with a team batting average of .315.
The Patriots were held to four hits in the win. Sophomore Tyler Nelin went 1-for-4 with a double. It was the only extra-base hit of the game. Smith, Kelly and Driscoll each had a single for Mason.
The Patriots will wrap up the five-game homestand Tuesday, May 3 against UMBC with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.
