FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team dropped its second straight game against Saint Louis, falling to the Billikens 7-2 on Friday at Spuhler Field.

Mason (24-31, 12-11 A-10) fell behind in the first inning when Saint Louis (32-19, 12-9 A-10) plated a run against starter Zach Mort.  Junior Aaron Case led off the game with a double down the left field line and scored on a sacrifice fly to put the Billikens in front 1-0.

The Patriots have allowed the first run of the game in seven of their last nine contests.

Mason responded in the bottom of the first when sophomore Brady Acker belted his sixth home run of the season against Billikens starter Devin Mahoney, a solo shot over the left field fence to tie the game 1-1.

After allowing two hits in the first inning, Mort allowed just one baserunner over the next six innings, retiring 19 of 20 batters and sending the Billikens down in order five times.

The Patriots took their first lead of the series in the home half of the sixth.  Junior Frank Sturek, Acker and freshman Logan Driscoll walked to load the bases with no outs.  Junior Trevor Kelly was then hit by a pitch to force in Sturek from third and Mason had a 2-1 advantage.

Saint Louis reliever Sean Frontzak limited the damage by recording two strikeouts and a ground out as Mason left the bases loaded in the inning.

The Billikens sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs on two hits and two walks with two outs in the eighth to retake the lead.  Junior Alex King started the rally with a leadoff single and with the bases loaded, he stole home to tie the score 2-2. 

After the Billikens scored a run on a wild pitch to go ahead 3-2, junior James Morisano drove in a pair of runs with a single to extend the lead to 5-2. 

Saint Louis would pad the lead in the ninth when sophomore Cole Dubet hit a two-run home run to left field off of Mason junior Ryan Ricci to make it 7-2.  The Billikens scored six of their seven runs in the game with two outs.

With the win, Saint Louis secured a spot in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship being held next weekend at the Billiken Sports Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Mason can earn a trip to the A-10 Tournament with a win against Saint Louis and a loss by Saint Joseph's at George Washington on Saturday.

Acker was 2-for-2 with a single and his sixth home run of the season.  He reached base all four times at the plate including a walk and hit by pitch.  Kelly finished 1-for-3 with a single and drove in his 51st run of the season.  He extended his hitting streak to 14 games.  The Patriots had just three hits, tied for the second-fewest they have had in a game this season.

Mort (3-6) allowed four runs on three hits and took the loss.  He struck out five and walked just one.  Senior Tyler Tobin allowed a run before having to leave the game, while Ricci surrendered two runs on five hits in one inning of work.

The Patriots look to avoid the sweep when they play their final home game of the season on Senior Day on Saturday at Spuhler Field.  The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.