KINGSTON, R.I. – The George Mason baseball team played its seventh doubleheader of the season, splitting a twin bill against Rhode Island on Friday, falling 4-3 in game one before winning the nightcap 10-9 at Bill Beck Field in Kingston, R.I.

In game one, Mason (23-29, 11-9 A-10) threatened in the top of the first inning against Rams starter Matt Murphy, who was named the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week last Monday. 

Junior Michael Smith led off the game with his 11th double of the season and with one out, sophomore Brady Acker walked to put runners on first and second.  Murphy worked his way out of the trouble with two strikeouts to end the inning.

Rhode Island (29-17, 17-5 A-10) took the lead in the home half of the first against Mason starter Tyler Zombro.  Rams junior Jordan Powell led off with an infield single and went to second on a throwing error.  With two outs, senior Matt O'Neil drove in Powell from second with a RBI single to put Rhode Island in front 1-0.

Mason has allowed the first run of the game in five of the last six contests.

The Patriots answered in the top of the second.  Junior Tyler Nelin led off with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a passed ball.  With one out, sophomore Alejandro Aponte drove in his 10th run of the season with a sacrifice fly, with Nelin crossing the plate to tie the score 1-1.

The Rams loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with three singles, but Zombro wiggled out of the jam with a strikeout and ground out to end the threat.

In the third, junior Frank Sturek hit a solo home run over the center field fence to give the Patriots the lead at 2-1.  After a single by Acker, freshman Logan Driscoll tripled to center, with Acker racing all the way around to score to extend the Mason advantage to 3-1.  Acker has scored 10 runs in the last 11 games.

The Rams countered in the bottom of the third when junior Chris Hess singled and scored on a RBI single by sophomore Brett McManus to make it a one-run game at 3-2.

After allowing eight hits over the first three innings, Zombro then retired 15 of 18 batters from the third through the eighth inning, including getting two quick outs in the eighth.

With two outs, Rams pinch hitter Justin Jewell singled and freshman Sonny Ulliana followed with his first collegiate home, a two-run shot to left field to give Rhode Island a 4-3 lead.  It was just the fifth home run that Zombro has surrendered this season and the first extra-base hit that he allowed in the game.

The Patriots put together a rally in the top of the ninth.  Junior Trevor Kelly singled and classmate Timothy Turner came in to pinch run.  Nelin was then hit by a pitch and Popatak dropped down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with only one out.

Aponte hit a ground ball to the second baseman, who threw home, with Turner thrown out at the plate on the play.  Pinch hitter Jonathan Hansen was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Smith flew out to left field to end the game as the Patriots suffered their fifth straight loss.

Zombro went the distance, allowing four runs, three earned, on 13 hits over 8.0 innings in the complete-game loss.  He struck out a season-high 11 batters without a walk.  Zombro has gone at least seven innings in seven of his last eight starts.

Smith went 2-for-5 with his 11th double of the season and was the only Patriot with a multi-hit game.  Sturek was 1-for-3 with a walk and hit his third home run in the last 12 games.  Driscoll finished 1-for-4 with his second triple of the season and drove in a run. 

In game two, Rhode Island took the lead in the second when senior Mike Corin led off the inning with a solo home run off of Mason starter Zach Mort to make it a 1-0 game.

The Patriots went in front in the top of the fourth, sending 13 batters to the plate against Rams starter Taso Stathopoulos and two relievers.  Mason scored eight runs on three hits, six walks, three passed balls and an error. 

Sturek led off the inning with a walk and with one out, Driscoll walked on four pitches to put runners on first and second.  Kelly stepped to the plate and swung at the first pitch he saw, crushing a three-run home run over the left field fence to give the Patriots a 3-1 advantage.  Kelly is second on the team with six round trippers this season and now has 16 RBI in his last 11 games.

Nelin reached on an error and sophomore Greg Popatak II walked.  After a pitching change, Aponte reached on an infield single to load the bases and both Nelin and Popatak each would score on passed balls to make the score 5-1. 

Smith and Sturek both walked to keep the inning going before Aponte raced home on the third passed ball of the inning to extend the Patriots lead to 6-1.  Acker grounded into a fielder's choice, with Smith scoring to make it 7-1 and Driscoll knocked in a run with a RBI single to give Mason an 8-1 cushion.

The eight runs are the most that Mason has scored in an inning this season.  Eight of the nine players in the lineup scored a run in the inning for Mason.  Five or the six players that walked crossed the plate.

In the bottom of the fourth, Rhode Island sent eight batters to the plate and scored five runs on three hits and three walks.

Freshman Kyle Beaulieu drove in a run with a RBI single, junior Jordan Powell delivered a two-RBI double down the left field line and junior Mike Foley knocked in a pair of runs with a double to cut the Mason lead to 8-6.  The Patriots made the call to the bullpen with junior Ryan Ricci taking over for Mort.

The two teams combined to score 13 runs on six hits and nine walks in the fourth.  Eight of the nine players that drew a free pass in the inning touched the plate.

Nelin led off the fifth with an infield single and Popatak followed with a walk.  After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, freshman John Callahan plated a run with a groundout and Smith singled to center to drive in another to make it 10-6 Mason.

The Rams again sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, this time against freshman Jared DiCesare, scoring three runs on four singles to make it a one-run game at 10-9.

Rhode Island loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with one out.  Senior Tyler Tobin was summoned from the Mason bullpen and recorded two fly outs to end the game as the Patriots held on for the win.

Mort allowed six runs on four hits over 3.1 innings in the no decision.  Junior Ryan Ricci (2-0) allowed one hit over 1.2 innings to earn his second win.  Tobin notched two fly outs to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Kelly went 2-for-5 with his sixth home run of the season and drove in three runs.  Smith, Acker, Driscoll and Callahan each drove in a run, while Nelin and Popatak each scored twice in the game.  The Patriots have hit eight home runs in their last 11 games.

Every player in the starting lineup for the Patriots reached base at least once and either drove in a run or scored a run.  Mason scored at least 10 runs in a game for the ninth time this season.

The Patriots are 7-7 in one-run games this season.  Mason has had four of the last eight games decided by a single run.

Mason snapped a five-game losing streak and Rhode Island saw its ten-game winning streak come to an end.  The Patriots handed the Rams just their second loss at home and the 10 runs are the most that Rhode Island has allowed in a home game this season. 

The Patriots and Rams will play the rubber game of the series on Saturday morning at Bill Beck Field with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.