FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team began its four-game homestand with a 10-3 victory over Towson on Wednesday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
Towson (11-18, 2-1 CAA) took the lead in the first inning against Mason starter Tyler Kardas. Richie Palacios led off with a single, moved to second on a ground out and scored on a single by Brady Policelli to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. After another single and a walk loaded the bases, Jay Sanford delivered with a RBI single to make it 2-0. The Patriots have allowed the first run in nine of their last 11 games.
The Patriots managed just an infield single against Towson starter David Marriggi, who struck out four in his three innings of work before departing the game.
Sophomore Ryan Ricci was summoned from the bullpen in the third inning after Towson loaded the bases with one out against Kardas on two singles and a walk. Ricci put a stop to the rally when he struck out the first batter he faced on three pitches and ended the inning with a pop up to the shortstop.
Mason (9-20, 1-5 A-10) began the comeback in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, sophomore Tyler Nelin singled off of reliever Dean Stramara and scored when senior Kent Blackstone doubled down the left field line to cut the Tigers lead to 2-1.
The Patriots then sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to take control of the game. After sophomore Frank Sturek and freshman Bailey Klein each singled, a throwing error by Stramara allowed Sturek to race home to tie the game 2-2. Blackstone drove in two runs in the inning with his second double of the game and Klein continued his big day by driving in two runs with a single as Mason built an 8-2 advantage. Seven runs are the most that the Patriots have scored in an inning this season.
Mason added a run in the sixth inning on three singles, with sophomore Trevor Kelly driving in Nelin with a RBI single through the left side to increase the lead to 9-2. The Patriots loaded the bases in the seventh and Blackstone knocked in his fourth run of the game with a single to center to make it 10-2.
Towson stranded 14 base runners and left the bases loaded three times in the game. Mason left a dozen runners on base.
Klein went 3-for-4 with two RBI and scored two runs. Blackstone was 4-for-5 and drove in four runs. His two doubles were the only two extra-base hits for the Patriots on the day. Nelin finished 4-for-5 with a RBI and scored three runs. Seven different players scored at least one run for Mason.
Kardas allowed two runs on six hits in 2.1 innings. The two runs were the first that he has allowed in his three starts this season. Ricci (1-2) surrendered just two hits in 3.2 innings and struck out four to earn the win. Senior Mark Maksimow, sophomore Saul Aguilera and freshman Jonathan Ostroff each tossed one scoreless inning in relief.
The Patriots are back on the diamond in Atlantic 10 Conference play Friday, April 8 when they host Dayton in the first of a three-game weekend series. The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.
