KINGSTON, R.I. – Sophomore Brian Marconi tossed eight strong innings and junior Tyler Nelin hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to propel the George Mason baseball team to a series win at Rhode Island, with the Patriots earning a 5-4 victory over the Rams on Saturday afternoon at Bill Beck Field in Kingston, R.I.

Mason (24-29, 12-9 A-10) took the lead in the first inning against Rams starter Vitaly Jangols when the first five batters of the game reached base. 

Junior Michael Smith led off with single and classmate Frank Sturek followed with a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third with no outs.  Sophomore Brady Acker then reached on a throwing error by the third baseman to load the bases.

Freshman Logan Driscoll delivered a bases-clearing double to right field, with Smith, Sturek and Acker scoring on the play to put Mason in front 3-0.  Junior Trevor Kelly kept the rally going with his ninth double of the season, with Driscoll racing across the plate to make it a 4-0 game.

Mason's four runs in the first inning ties for the second-most that the team has scored in the opening frame this season.  

Rhode Island (29-18, 17-6 A-10) responded in the home half of the first against Mason starter Brian Marconi.  Junior Chris Hess hit a two-run home run over the left field fence to cut the lead in half at 4-2 and with two-out, freshman Sonny Ulliana hit his second home run of the series, a two-run shot to right-center to tie the game 4-4.

After the first inning, Marconi retired 21 of the next 25 batters he faced and allowed just one hit.  He sat down the Rams in order in the sixth, seventh and eighth.  The Patriots and Rams combined for just 11 baserunners, with just four in scoring position, over the final eight innings of the game.

Rhode Island made a pitching change in the fifth, with junior Dom Grillo taking over on the hill.

In the top of the sixth, Nelin led off the inning by belting his ninth home run of the season, a solo blast over the left field fence to give the Patriots the lead for good at 5-4. 

Mason finished the regular season with a record of 14-8 on the road, tied for the most road victories by the program in the last 12 years.  The Patriots were 9-3 on the road against Atlantic 10 opponents, winning three of four road series including three-game sweeps at Dayton and Richmond.

Rhode Island had lost only one home game all season before dropping the final two games of the series to Mason.  All three games between the Patriots and Rams were decided by a single run.

Marconi (6-5) allowed four runs on five hits and struck out six over 8.0 innings to earn his team-leading sixth win of the season.  He has pitched at least seven innings in three of his last four starts.  Senior Tyler Tobin tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up his second straight save and fifth of the season.

Driscoll went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.  He has driven in eight runs in his last five games.  Nelin finished 1-for-3 with his team-leading ninth home run and a walk.  Kelly was 1-for-4 with his ninth double of the season and a drove in a run.  He has driven in 12 runs in his last eight games.

The Patriots have hit a total of 40 home runs this season, nine in the last 12 games.

The Patriots wrap up the regular season when they host Saint Louis for a three-game series beginning Thursday at Spuhler Field.  The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.