Box Score
Box score

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team had a late lead but dropped the middle game of its series against Saint Joseph's 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

Mason (22-25, 12-8 A-10) starter Bryce Nightengale and Saint Joseph's starter Tim Brennan were locked in a pitcher's duel for most of the game. 
 
Nightengale allowed just two hits over the first six innings, while Brennan surrendered a single to Mason junior Brady Acker in the first inning and then allowed only one baserunner over the next five frames.

The Hawks looked to take the lead in the seventh with runners on first and second and two outs.  Saint Joseph's sophomore Matt Cuppari then hit a ground ball back up the middle where Mason junior Alejandro Aponte made a diving play behind second base.  He scrambled to his feet and made the throw to first for the final out of the inning to keep the game scoreless.

Mason dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore Logan Driscoll hit a solo home run over the right field fence to put the Patriots in front 1-0.

The Hawks took the lead with a three-run eighth inning.

After Saint Joseph's loaded the bases with two walks and a Mason throwing error, the Patriots made the call to the bullpen for senior Garett Driscoll.  Hawks junior Charlie Concannon then drove in a pair of runs with a single through the right side and sophomore Kadar Namey followed with a RBI single through the left side to give Saint Joseph's a 3-1 advantage.

The Patriots threatened in the home half of the ninth when senior Tyler Nelin led off with a single and Acker followed with a double to left field to put two runners in scoring position with no outs.

Brennan got out of the jam with a double play and a line out to end the game.

Nightengale (4-6) was charged with three runs, two earned, on four hits over 7.0 innings and took the loss.  Driscoll allowed two hits and didn't retire a batter in the eighth.  Freshman Austin Cabone tossed two scoreless innings for the Patriots. 

Brennan (8-3) gave up one run on four hits and struck out five in the complete-game win for the Hawks.

Logan Driscoll hit his fourth home run of the season, and Acker went 2-for-4 with a single and a double.  The Hawks scored three runs on six hits, while the Patriots scored one run on four hits in the game.

The Patriots and Hawks wrap up the series on Senior Day on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Spuhler Field.