FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team scored seven runs in the first two innings, including five in the second, in a 9-7 win over La Salle in the final home game of the regular season Sunday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
Mason (18-32, 7-14 A-10) fell behind in the top of the first inning when the first three batters of the game for the Explorers each walked to load the bases against starter Brian Marconi. La Salle then took advantage of a throwing error to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
The Patriots came right back in the home half of the first against La Salle (15-36, 6-15 A-10) starter Jorge Jimenez, who allowed the first five Mason batters of the game to reach base. Freshman Caleb Walls walked and sophomore Michael Smith walked before sophomore Tyler Nelin was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Sophomore Garett Driscoll was also hit by a pitch to force in a run to make the score 2-1 and senior Kent Blackstone drew a walk, with Smith crossing the plate to tie the game 2-2.
The Patriots batted around in the second inning, scoring five runs on three hits. Freshman Jonathan Hansen, Nelin and Blackstone each had a RBI single in the frame and Mason took advantage of three more walks and an error to build a 7-2 advantage. The Patriots have scored at least five runs in an inning nine times this season.
The Explorers sent eight batters to the plate in the top of the third and scored four runs on three hits to cut the Patriots lead to 7-6. Junior Tyler Kardas entered the game in relief for the Patriots and recorded an inning-ending strikeout.
In the fifth, Driscoll and Blackstone collected back-to-back singles to start the inning. Hansen then doubled to right-center field with both baserunners racing home to increase the Mason lead to 9-6.
La Salle scored a run in the eighth to make the score 9-7 but would get no closer. The Patriots won five of their last eight games at home and finished the season with a record of 14-16 at Spuhler Field.
Mason recognized outfielder Kent Blackstone and pitchers Evan Porcella and Mark Maksimow on Senior Day at Spuhler Field.
Blackstone has played in 98 games for Mason and in 2015 was one of two players to start every game and tied the Patriots record for the most triples in a single season with eight. Porcella has appeared in 53 games over three seasons, including 14 appearances this season. In 2015, he led the staff with a 1.93 ERA and held opponents to a .197 batting average. Maksimow has appeared in 69 games for Mason over four seasons with 103 innings pitched, collecting 61 strikeouts, six wins and five saves.
Blackstone went 3-for-4 with three singles, scored two runs and drove in his 30th run of the season. Nelin finished 3-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. Driscoll went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and scored twice. Hansen was 2-for-5 with his sixth double of the season and drove in three runs.
Kardas (3-1) tossed 4.1 scoreless innings to earn the win. Freshman Zach Mort pitched the ninth to record his seventh save of the season. He has picked up a save in each of the Patriots last five victories.
The Patriots are back on the diamond Tuesday at Towson with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.
