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ARLINGTON, Va. – A resilient and resounding season for the George Mason University baseball team came to a close Saturday afternoon at Barcroft Park, where the Green & Gold fell to Saint Louis 5-0 in the Atlantic 10 Championship game.
 
The contest completes a successful 2018 campaign for the Green & Gold. After starting the season 0-8, Mason finished the season with a 29-27 record, including an excellent 16-8 mark in A-10 play which earned the Patriots the No. 2 seed. This week, the Patriots won three games in the tournament and finished as the runner up to cap the campaign.
 
Mason picked up a big 9-4 win Friday night vs. George Washington to stay alive and advance to Saturday's final. But the offensive force ran out in the title game, as SLU held Mason to no runs and two hits in the game.
 
Mason starters pitched well all week and Saturday was no different. Freshman Austin Cabone gave up just one run over the first four innings and effectively kept the Green & Gold in the contest for much of the game. He recorded career bests in innings pitched (4.2) and strikeouts (5) in the contest.
 
Offensively, Tyler Nelin, Trevor Kelly and Daniel Brooks recorded hits for the Patriots.
 
 After the game, seniors Michael Smith and Trevor Kelly, as well as junior Greg Popatak II were named to the All-Tournament team for their outstanding effort throughout the week.
 
Saint Louis struck first in the top of the second inning. The Billikens put runners on first and third with two outs, and an RBI single by Aaron Case put SLU up 1-0.
 
Over the next few innings, Mason only plated a pair of base runners, but the Patriots remained in the game because of the excellent management by Cabone. He allowed just the one run over the first three innings while scattering three hits. 
 
The Billikens added to their lead in the top of the fifth, with a two-out, RBI single moving SLU ahead, 2-0. At that point, manager Bill Brown relieved Cabone with Michael Yuille. The Billikens added one more run before the inning was over to go up 3-0.
 
Mason put together a threat in the bottom of the fifth, with runners on first and second with two outs after a pair of walks. However, Brady Acker was caught looking to end the inning, as the Patriots remained scoreless halfway through the game.
 
Saint Louis added a run in the sixth on a bases loaded walk to make it 4-0. However, Mason pitcher Timothy Turner prevented further damage by recording a bases loaded strikeout to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Daniel Brooks hit a one-out double, but the Patriots could not bring him home, as the side was retired in order from there.
 
Aaron Case added one more run (5-0) for the Billikens with a solo shot in the eighth inning.
 
Seniors Garett Driscoll and Ryan Ricci pitched the ninth inning for the Green & Gold, as Brown gave them a chance to close out their careers in style. They did just that, combining to pitch a scoreless inning.

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