MERION STATION, Pa. – The George Mason baseball team took an early lead, but fell in the third game of its series against Saint Joseph's, dropping a 5-2 decision for the second straight day at Smithson Field in Merion Station, Pa.

Mason (12-20, 3-3 A-10) went in front in the top of the first inning against Hawks starter Hayden Seig.  With one out, junior Michael Smith singled through the left side before junior Tyler Nelin and sophomore Greg Popatak II both walked to load the bases.

Junior Trevor Kelly then drove in a run when he grounded into a fielder's choice, with Smith racing home from third to give the Patriots a 1-0 advantage.

Saint Joseph's (9-15, 3-3 A-10) responded in the home half of the first against Mason starter Brian Marconi.

With one out, junior Deon Stafford, Jr. hit his fourth home run of the season, a solo blast to left field to tie the game 1-1.  After back-to-back singles put runners on the corners, senior Cal Jadacki drove in a run with a groundout to put the Hawks in front 2-1.

The Patriots had a chance in the second.  Sophomore Alejandro Aponte collected a one-out single and classmate Brady Acker walked with two outs to put runners on first and second.  Smith then hit a deep fly ball to right field, where Hawks sophomore Charlie Concannon made a spectacular running catch before crashing into the outfield wall for the final out of the inning.

Mason did even the score in the top of the third.  Nelin led off the inning with a single, stole second base and scored all the way from second on a passed ball to tie the game 2-2.

The Hawks took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth.  Junior Dominic Cuoci started the inning with a walk and with two outs scored when senior Peter Sitaras tripled to the gap in right-center to make it a 3-2 game.  Junior Matt Maul followed with a double to left, with Sitaras coasting home to make the score 4-2.

The Hawks tacked on a run in the eighth for the 5-2 final.  Saint Joseph's relievers Zach DeVincenzo and Brian Lau combined to toss five scoreless innings.  The Hawks have won nine of their last 12 games after losing their first 10 games of the season.

Marconi (3-4) allowed four runs on six hits over 5.0 innings and took the loss.  Senior Tyler Kardas allowed one run on three hits in 2.2 innings of work and senior Ryan Galvin struck out the lone batter he faced in the eighth.

Nelin went 1-for-3 with a walk and scored a run.  Smith finished 1-for-4 and scored his team-leading 25th run of the season, while Kelly drove in his 20th run of the season for Mason.

The Patriots are back on the road to face Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday in Emmitsburg, Md. with the first pitch scheduled for 3:30 pm.