Box Score
Box score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Mason graduate student
Frank Sturek and junior
Greg Popatak II each homered, while the Patriots had 13 hits in a 9-2 win over La Salle on Friday afternoon at DeVincent Field in Philadelphia, Pa.
With the win, the Patriots clinched a berth in the 2018 Atlantic 10 Championship beginning May 23 in Arlington, Va.
Mason (25-25, 15-8 A-10) and La Salle (14-40, 4-19 A-10) were scoreless when the Explorers took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the fourth against starter
Bryce Nightengale.
The Patriots dented the scoreboard in the top of the fifth against La Salle starter Jackson Ray. Sturek singled and scored on a RBI-single by senior
Tyler Nelin to even the score 1-1.
Mason batted around in the sixth, scoring four runs on four hits and two errors to break the game open.
Senior
Trevor Kelly reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Senior
Michael Smith then tripled down the right field line, with Kelly scoring on the play to put the Patriots in front 2-1. Smith's five triples are tied for third-most in the Atlantic 10.
Freshman
Daniel Brooks followed with a bunt single, with Smith racing across the plate to increase the lead to 3-1. After a single by junior
Alejandro Aponte put runners on the corners with only one out, Sturek singled to right to knock in a run to make the score 4-1.
The Patriots tacked on another run when Nelin reached on the second Explorers error of the inning, with Sturek crossing the plate to extend the advantage to 5-1.
The Explorers threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases on three singles with only one out. Nightengale limited the damage, allowing just one run in the inning.
The Patriots used the long ball to pull away, hitting home runs in back-to-back innings.
Popatak hit his third round tripper of the season, a blast to the opposite field in the seventh and Sturek turned on a 3-2 pitch and went deep for the second time this season in the eighth to increase the lead to 7-2. It's the fourth time this season that the Patriots have hit two or more home runs in a game.
Mason loaded the bases in the ninth when Kelly singled and Popatak and Brooks both walked. Aponte drove in a run with a single and Sturek forced in a run with a walk for the final two runs of the game to make the score 9-2.
The Patriots have won three straight and six of their last 10 games. Mason has won six of eight Atlantic 10 series this season.
Nightengale (5-6) allowed two runs on six hits and struck out seven over 6.0 innings to earn the win, while freshman
Austin Cabone scattered two hits over three scoreless innings in relief.
Ray (1-6) surrendered five runs, four earned, on nine hits over 5.1 innings and took the loss for the Explorers.
Sturek went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and three RBI, Nelin was 3-for-5 with two RBI and Popatak finished 1-for-3 with a walk, home run and scored two runs. Brooks and Aponte each had two singles, drove in a run and scored a run.
The Patriots wrap up the regular season against the Explorers on Saturday with the first pitch slated for 1 p.m. at DeVincent Field in Philadelphia, Pa.
