Box Score
Box score
FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason junior
Bryce Nightengale allowed just one run over a season-high eight innings, but the Patriots fell to Massachusetts 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
Mason (17-23, 8-6 A-10) nearly took the lead in the second inning against UMass (12-20, 5-12 A-10) starter Sean Harney. Junior
Greg Popatak II just missed a home run when he jumped on a 3-2 pitch and hit a high fly ball that hit off the wall in left-center field for a double.
In the top of the fifth, UMass sophomore Marcus Fry hit a solo home run over the left field fence to account for the only run of the game.
The Patriots have played three straight one-run games.
Nightengale (3-5) allowed just the one run on seven hits over a season-high 8.0 innings and took the loss. He struck out four and walked one. Senior
Garett Driscoll pitched a scoreless ninth.
Harney (2-0) tossed 6.1 scoreless innings to earn the win for the Minutemen. He allowed five hits and struck out three without a walk. UMass junior Casey Aubin didn't allow a hit over the final 2.2 innings to pick up his team-leading third save of the season.
Senior
Tyler Nelin went 2-for-4 with two singles, while senior
Michael Smith and junior
Alejandro Aponte each went 1-for-3 with a single.
The Patriots and Minutemen play the rubber game of the series on Sunday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Spuhler Field.
