AMHERST, Mass. – The George Mason baseball team scored in the first inning for the second straight day against the University of Massachusetts, but fell 2-1 to the Minutemen on Friday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. UMass has won each of the first two games of the series 2-1.
Mason (19-34, 7-16 A-10) dented the scoreboard in the top of the first against UMass starter Justin Lasko. With two outs, sophomore Tyler Nelin singled up the middle and senior Kent Blackstone singled to right field. Sophomore Garett Driscoll then collected the Patriots third straight single of the inning, with Nelin rumbling home from second base to give Mason a 1-0 lead. It's the fourth straight game and the 18th time this season that the Patriots have scored at least one run in the opening frame.
UMass (17-27, 10-13A-10) evened the score in the home half of the second against Mason starter Joe Williams. With one out, freshman Cooper Mrowka singled to left-center field and sophomore Brett Evangelista drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Freshman Ryan Lever belted a double to left field, with Mrowka scoring from second to tie the game 1-1.
The Minutemen took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Senior John Jennings led off the inning with a double to left field and advanced to third on a ground out. After a walk put runners on the corners, Evangelista fouled out to freshman Alejandro Aponte and Jennings was able to race home from third with the final run of the day to put UMass in front 2-1.
The Patriots collected nine hits in the game and stranded 10 runners on base, including two baserunners at second base and five at third base. The Minutemen scored two runs on just four hits, two singles and two doubles.
UMass has won eight of its last 10 games at home, three by a single run. Mason is 5-17 on the road this season.
Williams (3-7) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits over 6.0 innings of work. He struck out four and walked five Minutemen in the game. Sophomore Saul Aguilera tossed two scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit.
Nelin went 2-for-4 with his eighth double of the season. Aponte was 2-for-4 and collected his second double of the season. He is 6-for-12 in three games played this week. Driscoll finished 1-for-2, walked twice and drove in the lone run for the Patriots for the second straight game. He has driven in six runs in his last five games.
The Patriots will play their final game of the 2016 campaign Saturday afternoon, with the first pitch of the series finale against the Minutemen scheduled for 12 p.m.
