WILMINGTON, N.C. – The George Mason baseball team won its first game of the 2017 season, earning a 3-1 victory over Appalachian State University in the middle game of the Hughes Brothers Challenge at Brooks Field in Wilmington, N.C.

Mason (1-1) sophomore Brian Marconi turned in a dominant performance in his first start of the season, throwing 75 pitches over six innings.  Mountaineers sophomore starter Colin Schmid threw 79 pitches in a game that turned into a pitchers dual between the two left-handers.

Appalachian State (0-2) struggled against Marconi, managing just one hit over the first five innings.  Mountaineers freshman Calev Grubbs scratched out an infield single to lead off the game, but Marconi retired 16 of the next 19 batters he faced.

The game remained scoreless going into the sixth, with only the Patriots moving a runner into scoring position.

With one out in the sixth, Appalachian State took the lead.  Junior Connor Leonard doubled down the left field line and with two outs, junior Chandler Seagle singled to center with Leonard scoring from second to put the Mountaineers ahead 1-0.

Mason answered quickly in the bottom of the sixth.  Junior Michael Smith walked on four pitches to start the inning and freshman catcher Logan Driscoll followed with a single to put runners on first and second.

With one out, junior Tyler Nelin doubled to left-center to drive in both Smith and Driscoll to give the Patriots a 2-1 lead.   

Mason added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth against Mountaineers reliever Reed Howell.  Garett Driscoll was hit by a pitch for the fourth time in two games to start the inning before sophomore Alejandro Aponte grounded into a fielder's choice.

Junior Frank Sturek then worked the count full and drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs.  That set the table for junior Brady Acker, who drove in his first run of the season with a single to left, with Aponte racing home to give the Patriots a 3-1 advantage.

Sophomore Bryce Nightengale took over on the mound for Mason in the seventh inning.  He retired nine of the 10 batters he faced in the game to pick up the first save of his collegiate career. 

Marconi (1-0) allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out four over 6.0 innings of work to record the first road win of his collegiate career.  Marconi's lone win last season was a 1-0 victory over Richmond at Spuhler Field in Mason's 44th game of the season.   He gave up just four singles over 7.0 innings in that outing.

Nightengale allowed one hit and struck out two batters in 3.0 innings on Saturday to combine with Marconi on the four-hitter.  Appalachian State moved just three runners into scoring position in the game.

NeIin went 3-for-4 with two singles, a double and two RBI.  He has five hits and has driven in five runs over the first two games.  Nelin started 53 games last year and finished the season with 20 RBI.  Logan Driscoll also went 3-for-4 for the first multi-hit game of his NCAA career. 

Sturek was busy in center field in the top of the ninth, recording all three outs in the inning.

The Patriots had the leadoff hitter reach base four times on Saturday against the Mountaineers.  They scored both times.  Mason has had the leadoff hitter in an inning reach base 11 times over the first two games and four times that baserunner has crossed the plate.

The Patriots are back on the field for their final game of the weekend when they face VMI on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m. at Brooks Field in Wilmington, N.C.