Box Score Box score

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team fell to James Madison 2-1 on Wednesday at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.

Mason (14-17, 6-3 A-10) freshman James Price made his third start of the season and turned in a solid performance.  He didn't allow a hit and struck out four batters over five innings of work.

James Madison (16-16, 2-7 CAA) took the lead in the top of the sixth against Mason junior Matthew Yost.  Freshman Hunter Johnson led off with a walk and sophomore DaVonn Griffin was hit by a pitch to start the inning.  After a sacrifice bunt, the Dukes scored their first run on a wild pitch and plated another with a sacrifice fly to make the score 2-0.

The Patriots threatened in the fifth.  Sophomore John Callahan was hit by a pitch and with two outs, freshman Daniel Brooks and sophomore Logan Driscoll each walked to load the bases.  Mason was unable to score in the inning.

The Patriots cut into the lead in the home half of the sixth.

Mason senior Tyler Nelin led off the inning with a double and went to third on a ground out.  After a walk to junior Tim Quinn, Callahan drove in Nelin with a ground out to cut the Dukes advantage to 2-1.  Junior Alejandro Aponte then singled to left, but Quinn was thrown out at the plate for the final out of the inning.

With two outs in the eighth, Logan Driscoll singled and senior Trevor Kelly walked.  Driscoll would advance to third base on a wild pitch, but the Patriots could not score the game-tying run.

Price struck out four and walked just one over 5.0 innings in a no-decision.  Yost (0-1) allowed two runs in 0.2 innings and took the loss.  Senior Timothy Turner, sophomore Jared DiCesare and senior Ryan Ricci combined for 3.1 scoreless innings for the Patriots.

James Madison starter Michael Bechtold allowed four hits and didn't give up a run over 4.0 innings.  Junior Christian Bourne (1-1) surrendered one run on one hit over 1.1 innings and earned the win for the Dukes.  Junior Dan Goggin tossed 2.1 scoreless innings to pick up his first save of the season.

Frank Sturek went 2-for-5 with a single and a double.  Callahan was 0-for-3 and drove in Mason's lone run of the game. 

The Patriots limited James Madison two just two hits in the game, while Mason scored one run on seven hits.

The Patriots are back in action when they begin a three-game series against Georgetown, with game one scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda, Md.