FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team rallied from a four-run deficit but fell short to James Madison, dropping a 4-3 decision on Tuesday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

Mason (22-28, 10-8 A-10) fell behind in the top of the third when the Dukes scored three runs with two outs against starter Bryce Nightengale.  James Madison sent seven batters to the plate and junior Adam Sisk had the big hit in the inning, a three-run home run over the left field fence to give the Dukes a 3-0 lead.

James Madison (22-22, 5-13 CAA) tacked on a run in the fourth when junior Ryan Coale singled with one out and scored on a double by classmate Mike Sciorra to make the score 4-0.

The Patriots responded in the home half of the fourth against Dukes starter Cam Vassar.  Sophomore Brady Acker led off with a walk and junior Michael Smith singled through the left side to put runners on the corners with no outs.

After a pitching change, freshman Logan Driscoll followed with a sacrifice fly, with Acker cruising home to cut the lead to 4-1. 

In the sixth, Acker began the inning with an infield single and Smith was hit by a pitch.  Driscoll then delivered a RBI single to drive in Acker from second base to trim the Dukes advantage to 4-2.  After the baserunners advanced to second and third on a passed ball, freshman Greg Popatak II drove in a run with a RBI groundout, with Smith crossing the plate to make it a one-run game at 4-3.

The Patriots had the tying run in scoring position in each of the final four innings, but failed to score the equalizer and dropped their fourth straight game.

Both games between the two teams this season were decided by one run, with each team earning a victory.  Mason is 7-5 in games decided by one run this season.

Nightengale (2-4) allowed four runs on six hits over 5.0 innings and suffered the loss.  Four Mason relievers combined to allowed just two hits over four scoreless innings.  Freshman Jakob Ryan worked the sixth, senior Tyler Tobin the seventh, senior Brock Hunter the eighth and freshman Jared DiCesare the ninth.

Junior Trevor Kelly went 2-for-4 with two singles.  Acker was 1-for-3 and scored two runs.  He has scored eight runs in the last nine games.  Driscoll finished 1-for-3 with two RBI and has now driven in eight runs over his last eight games.  Mason had six hits in the game, all singles.

The Patriots are on the road for a three-game Atlantic 10 series against first-place Rhode Island starting Friday at Bill Beck Field in Kingston, R.I.  The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.