BASEBALL vs. George Washington
2018 ATLANTIC 10 BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
WHEN:  Wednesday, May 23 | 1:30 p.m.
WHERE:  Tucker Field at Barcroft Park | Arlington, Va.
RECORDS:  Mason (26-25, 16-8 A-10), George Washington (29-24, 13-11 A-10)
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FAIRFAX, Va. – After earning the second seed, the George Mason baseball team will face seventh-seeded George Washington in the first round of the 2018 Atlantic 10 Championship on Wednesday with the first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Tucker Field at Barcroft Park in Arlington, Va. 

Mason (26-25, 16-8 A-10) claimed the No 2 seed with a three-game sweep at La Salle on the final weekend of the regular season. 

The Patriots are in the A-10 tournament for the second straight year and the third time in program history. 

Last time out, the Patriots defeated the Explorers 15-4 on Saturday at DeVincent Field in Philadelphia, Pa.  Mason junior Brady Acker went 4-for-4 with two home runs, including the first grand slam of his collegiate career and drove in a career-high seven runs in the game.

Senior Tyler Nelin was 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored, while junior Alejandro Aponte finished 2-for-5 with a RBI and scored three runs.

Mason sophomore Jared DiCesare (6-5) allowed one run and struck out four over 5.0 innings to earn his team-leading sixth win of the season.

Mason finished the regular season with an overall record of 26-25 and went 16-8 against Atlantic 10 opponents.  The 16 wins for the Patriots against conference foes equals the mark for the most regular season conference victories in program history.  The Patriots recorded a 16-9 mark in the inaugural season in the A-10 in 2014.

The Patriots have a team batting average of .265.  Sophomore Logan Driscoll finished second in the A-10 in average (.358) and ranked fourth in the conference in hits (72).  He also tied for 12th in the A-10 in runs scored (39) and tied for 16th in RBI (37).

Driscoll, who is a semifinalist for the 2018 Johnny Bench Award, was selected All-Conference First Team in a vote by the league's 13 head coaches.  He had at least one hit in 41 of 51 games, including 22 multi-hit games.

Senior Trevor Kelly batted .301 and ranked 11th in the Atlantic 10 in hits (62), was second in doubles (18) and seventh in RBI (43).  He also led the team and tied for 11th in the conference in home runs (6).

Nelin had a .345 average and was named to the All-Conference Second Team for the second straight year.  He was third on the team in hits (51) and fourth in doubles (10).  Nelin recorded at least one hit in 29 of 39 games, including 15 multi-hit games.

On the mound, junior Zach Mort (5-3, 2.38) led the Atlantic 10 in innings pitched (98.1) and tied for first in the league in complete games (3).  He ranked second in the A-10 in strikeouts (104) and starts (14), while finishing the regular season sixth in ERA (2.38).

A two-time Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week, Mort was selected All-Conference Second Team.  Against A-10 opponents this season, he is 3-1 with a 1.75 ERA.

Mason senior Ryan Ricci (4-2, 1.99) finished the regular season tied for fifth in the A-10 in appearances (23).

Mason has won four straight and 10 of the last 13 games.

The Patriots won six of their eight conference series of the season, including taking two of three against George Washington May 4-5 at Barcroft Park.  After dropping the first game 1-0, Mason swept a doubleheader from the Colonials by final scores of 5-3 and 4-3.

The winner of the game between Mason and George Washington will advance to play in round two on Thursday at 10 a.m. against the winner of the game between No. 3 Fordham and No. 6 VCU.

SCOUTING GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington finished with a 29-24 overall record, including a mark of 13-11 against Atlantic 10 opponents.  The Colonials were 19-8 at home, 10-15 on the road and 0-1 in their lone game played at a neutral site.

The Colonials are making their fourth straight appearance in the Atlantic 10 Championship.

George Washington led the A-10 with a team batting average of .288 and also led the conference in total hits (531). 

Senior Isaiah Pasteur led the Atlantic 10 in hits (75), runs scored (54), total bases (132) and triples (7).  He ranked second in the conference in stolen bases (30, fourth in average (.341) and was third in home runs (10) and RBI (46).

Pasteur was named A-10 Player of the Year, becoming the fourth player in program history to earn the honor. 

Senior Mark Osis was eighth in the Atlantic 10 in average (.330) and finished second in the conference in RBI (55).  He tied for fifth in the A-10 in hits (69) and tied for seventh in doubles (17).

Junior Dominic D'Alessandro batted .314 and tied for ninth in the A-10 in home runs (7) and ranked 11th in RBI (41).

Along with Pasteur, Osis and D'Alessandro were selected All-Conference First Team.  Senior second baseman Robbie Metz and junior reliever Will Kobos were named All-Conference Second Team.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Mason:  RHP Zach Mort (5-3, 2.38)
George Washington:  RHP Jaret Edwards (4-2, 3.45)

STRIKE ZONE

With Davidson winning the championship last season, there have been seven different Atlantic 10 Tournament champions over the last seven years.  The last back-to-back conference tournament champion was Charlotte in 2007 and 2008.

Only five teams have won back-to-back Atlantic 10 Tournament championships in the 39-year history of the tournament.  Charlotte in 2007 and 2008, Virginia Tech in 1999 and 2000, UMass in 1995 and 1996, Rutgers in 1990 and 1991 and Temple in 1983 and 1994.

The Atlantic 10 Championship has been held at 16 different host locations since 1979.  The last team to win the championship on its home field was Rutgers, taking the title when the tournament was held in Piscataway, N.J. in 1986.

The Scarlet Knights have won the most A-10 Tournament championships, claiming the title six times in program history.

2018 ATLANTIC 10 BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING

#1 Saint Louis (35-18, 19-4 A-10)
#2 George Mason (26-25, 16-8 A-10)
#3 Fordham (34-17-1, 16-8 A-10)
#4 Richmond (31-22, 15-9 A-10)
#5 Davidson (32-19, 14-10 A-10)
#6 VCU (34-21, 14-10 A-10)
#7 George Washington (29-24, 13-11 A-10)