OLEAN, N.Y. – The George Mason baseball team erased a two-run deficit and then held on for a 4-3 win over St. Bonaventure on Saturday afternoon at McGraw-Jennings Field.
Mason (16-30, 5-12 A-10) threatened in the top of the first against Bonnies starter Connor Grey. With two outs, sophomore Tyler Nelin reached on an error and classmate Garett Driscoll followed with a single to right field to put runners on first and second, but the Patriots were unable to score a run.
St. Bonaventure (22-19-1, 7-10 A-10) dented the scoreboard in the home half of the second against Mason starter Joe Williams. A pair of singles put runners on first and second with one out before senior Tyler Kirwan drove in two runs with a double into the left field corner to give the Bonnies a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Nelin singled and Driscoll was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second to start the inning. Freshman Tim Quinn advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt and with two outs, freshman Ryan Tassone delivered with a two-RBI single to right-center field to tie the score 2-2.
Mason sent eight batters to the plate in an eventful seventh inning and took the lead for the first time in the series. Freshman Alejandro Aponte led off with a single and sophomore Frank Sturek appeared to reach base on a bunt single, with Aponte scoring all the way from first base on a wild throw that went down the right field line. Sturek was called out for interference on the play, with Aponte sent back to first base and the go-ahead run taken off the scoreboard.
Later in the inning, freshman Caleb Walls put down a bunt single with Aponte moving to second. Sophomore Michael Smith then collected a RBI single with Aponte scoring to give the Patriots a 3-2 lead. After Nelin was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Driscoll hit a sacrifice fly to left, with Walls coasting home from third to increase the lead to 4-2.
St. Bonaventure put runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth and cut the Mason lead to 4-3 with a RBI single, but the Bonnies left the game-tying run in scoring position when freshman Zach Mort retired Aaron Phillips on a ground out to end the game.
Mason has won six of the last 10 overall and improved to 9-6 in games decided by a single run. It's the first one-run victory for the Patriots on the road this season.
Williams (3-6) allowed two runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings to earn the win. Mort pitched the ninth to pick up his fifth save of the season. He has a save in each of the last three Mason wins.
Grey (2-5) surrendered four runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings and suffered the loss. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter.
Tassone went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs. Aponte was 2-for-4 and scored a run and Sturek finished with two hits. The Patriots collected 10 hits in the game, all singles.
The two teams wrap up the series Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
