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CHARLESTON, S.C. – The George Mason baseball team allowed three runs in the eighth inning and dropped the season opener 3-0 to The Citadel on Friday at Joseph Riley, Jr. Park in Charleston, S.C.

Mason (0-1) junior Zach Mort earned the Opening Day start and didn't disappoint.  He retired the first 12 batters he faced in the game, including four strikeouts.

"He was fantastic today," Mason head coach Bill Brown said.  "I'm not sure you can pitch any better than Zach pitched.  He executed pitches and commanded the ball great all day.  You can't say enough about the effort he gave us.  Unfortunately we just couldn't help him offensively."

The Patriots threatened in the second inning against Bulldogs starter Dylan Spence. 

Senior Tyler Nelin was hit by a pitch to start the inning and with one out, junior Tim Quinn singled through the right side to put runners on the corners. 

Spence, who tossed a career-high seven innings, escaped the jam with a strikeout and an inning-ending groundout.  It was the only inning in the game that the Patriots had more than one baserunner.

"It's always about timing and what you do in the clutch," Brown said.  "We weren't very productive today offensively.  Even though it's frustrating at the end of the day, I don't worry that much about offense.  It just didn't click today."

The Citadel (1-0) sent eight batters to the plate in the eighth and scored three runs against Mason relievers Jared DiCesare and Ryan Ricci.

Bulldogs junior Jordan Buster took over for Spence to start the eighth.  Buster struck out five Mason batters over two scoreless innings to pick up the win.  He and Spence combined for the four-hit shutout.

Mort allowed two singles and struck out four over 7.0 innings in the no-decision.  DiCesare (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks.

Spence allowed four singles and struck out four over 7.0 innings of work.  Buster (1-0) tossed the final two innings to pick up the win.

The Patriots were held to four singles and had just seven total baserunners in the game.  Sophomore Logan Driscoll went 2-for-4, while junior Tim Quinn finished 2-for-3.

Freshmen Scott Morgan and Daniel Brooks made their NCAA debuts for the Patriots.  Morgan entered the game as a pinch hitter and Brooks took over at second base in the seventh inning.

"Some more freshmen will get a chance to see some action as the weekend goes on," said Brown.  "That's part of the process for them.  They have to get in and get through the nerves of their first collegiate action.  That way they can relax and be the players that they are capable of being."

Mason is back on the diamond at the Charleston Crab House Challenge on Saturday against Richmond with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. at Joseph Riley, Jr. Park in Charleston, S.C.