Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game One Box score
Game Two Box score

LEXINGTON, S.C. – The George Mason baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Butler, falling 12-1 in game one and 5-3 in the nightcap on Saturday at Lexington County Baseball Stadium in Lexington, S.C.

In game one, Mason (0-6) fell behind 2-0 when Butler (7-0) scored two runs in the fourth inning against starter Jared DiCesare. 

After an infield single and a stolen base by senior Michael Hartnagel, Bulldogs junior Connor Dall drove in the first run of the game with a RBI single to right.  With two outs in the inning, sophomore Harrison Freed doubled to right, with Dall crossing the plate with Butler's second run.

Mason freshman Michael Yuille took over on the mound to start the fourth inning.  A leadoff single and a double put runners on second and third before senior Gehrig Parker drove in two runs with a double down the right field line to increase the Bulldogs lead to 4-0.  Parker then scored on a sacrifice fly to make the score 5-0.

The Patriots scored their lone run of the game in the sixth inning against Butler starter Garrett Christman.  Sophomore Logan Driscoll led off with a single and senior Tyler Nelin's base hit put runners on the corners with no outs.  Driscoll crossed the plate when freshman Scott Morgan grounded into a double play to cut the Bulldogs lead to 5-1.

Butler scored two more runs in the seventh and then sent 11 batters to the plate in a five-run eighth inning for the 12-1 final.

DiCesare (0-2) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out five over 4.0 innings.  Yuille surrendered three runs on three hits in one inning of work.  Freshman James Price was charged with seven runs on four hits in 2.1 innings.  Junior Jon Ostroff tossed a scoreless ninth.

Christman (2-0) allowed one run on seven hits and earned the win for the Bulldogs.  Three Butler relievers combined for 2.1 scoreless innings.

Mason junior Greg Popatak II and Nelin each when 2-for-4 in the game as the Patriots collected 12 hits.  Driscoll finished 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to five games.

Butler senior Tyler Houston went 3-for-4, drove in a run and scored twice.  Sophomore Harrison Freed was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.  Eight players drove in at least one run and eight players scored at least one run in the game for the Bulldogs.

In game two, the Bulldogs used three straight doubles in the second inning against Mason starter Bryce Nightengale to take a 2-0 advantage. 

The Patriots responded with three runs against Butler starter Ryan Pepiot in the top of the third to take the lead.  Popatak led off the inning with a walk and with two outs, senior Michael Smith tripled to right with Popatak racing around from first to make it a 2-1 game.  Driscoll and Nelin followed with RBI singles and Mason was up 3-2.

The Patriots lead wouldn't last as the Bulldogs scored a run in the bottom of the third on a RBI single by Hartnagel to tie the score 3-3.

The first three batters in the sixth inning reached base for the Bulldogs, who scored two runs against Mason sophomore Jakob Ryan to take a 5-3 lead. 
 
The Bulldogs bullpen did the rest.  Freshman Connor Schultz and sophomore Jack Pilcher combined to allow just one hit over the final four innings.  Schultz (1-0) allowed just one single over 3.0 innings, while Pilcher retired the Patriots in order in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season.

Nightengale allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out six over 5.0 innings in the no decision.  Ryan (0-1) surrendered two runs on three hits and suffered the loss.  Senior Ryan Ricci closed out the game for the Patriots, allowing just one hit over 2.2 innings.

The top of the order combined for Mason's six hits in the game with Smith, Driscoll and Nelin each 2-for-4 with a RBI.  Driscoll has hit safely in each of the first six games of the season.

The Patriots are back on the diamond for their first home series of the season, hosting Fairfield for a three-game set beginning Friday, Mar. 2 at Spuhler Field.  The first pitch for game one of the series is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.