FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team rallied from three runs down against Saint Louis, but fell 4-3 to the Billikens in the first of a three-game series on Thursday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

Mason (24-30, 12-10 A-10) fell behind in the fourth inning when Saint Louis (31-19, 11-9 A-10) scored a pair of runs on three singles against Mason starter Tyler Zombro.  Junior Alex King drove in both runs with a two-out single through the left side to give the Billikens a 2-0 lead.

Saint Louis added a run in the top of the seventh when pinch hitter Devin Mahoney swung at the first pitch he saw and hit a solo home run over the right field fence to make the score 3-0.

The Patriots had just three baserunners through the first six innings against Saint Louis starter Miller Hogan, but responded in the home half of the seventh to make it a one-run game. 

With one out, junior Trevor Kelly and classmate Tyler Nelin both singled and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch.  Sophomore Greg Popatak II then reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, with both Kelly and Nelin scoring on the play to cut the lead to 3-2.

In the eighth, junior Michael Smith singled through the right side with one out.  Junior Frank Sturek followed with his seventh double of the season into the gap in right-center, with Smith racing all the way around from first to tie the game 3-3.

Mason freshman Jared DiCesare took over on the mound to begin the top of the ninth inning.  Mahoney put Saint Louis back in front 4-3 with his second home run in as many at-bats.

In the bottom of the ninth, after singles by Nelin and Popatak and a fielder's choice by sophomore Alejandro Aponte, Mason moved the tying run to third base before Saint Louis closer Ryan Lefner ended the game with a strikeout.

Each of Mason's last five games and 10 of the last 16 contests has been decided by a single run.  Saint Louis improved to 19-4 when scoring the first run of the game.

Zombro (5-5), pitching the final home game of his Mason career, allowed three runs on 10 hits in the no decision.  He struck out five and didn't walk a batter.  DiCesare (2-3) allowed one run on one hit and suffered the loss.

Hogan (8-2) surrendered three runs on seven hits and struck out eight, while Lefner picked up his 11th save of the season.  Neither team walked a batter in the game.

Nelin went 3-for-4 with three singles and scored a run.  Smith finished 2-for-4 and scored his team-leading 45th run of the season.  Sturek and Popatak each drove in a run for Mason.

The Patriots and Billikens will play game two of the series on Friday morning at Spuhler Filed.  The first pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.