• Senior third baseman Greg Popatak II went 1-3 with a walk, double and four RBI.
• Junior catcher Logan Driscoll was 2-3 with a two-run home run.
• Junior starting pitcher Jared DiCesare allowed two runs over six innings to earn the win.

Box score (PDF)

KISSIMMEE, Fla. –  George Mason senior third baseman Greg Popatak II drove in four runs and junior catcher Logan Driscoll belted a two-run home run to lead the Patriots past Iowa, 7-2, in the Diamond 9 Sunshine State Challenge on Friday afternoon at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla.

Mason (1-0) took the lead over Iowa (0-1) in the bottom of the third against Hawkeyes starter Cole McDonald.

With two outs, redshirt senior outfielder Brady Acker laid down a bunt single on the third base side to keep the inning going.  Sophomore second baseman Daniel Brooks followed with a triple into the gap in right-center, with Acker racing around from first to put the Patriots in front 1-0.

Driscoll, the Atlantic 10 Preseason Player of the Year, then belted his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to straightaway center field to the deepest part of the ballpark to make the score 3-0. 

"We scored some runs with two outs and that's usually a good indicator that you are hitting it pretty good," Mason head coach Bill Brown said.  "It's a good sign for us when we get those two-out RBI's.  Logan's home run, that's as well as you can hit a baseball.  That was huge, but Brady starts it with two outs and the bunt single and then Daniel has the big triple."

The Hawkeyes got on the board in the top of the fifth when junior catcher Austin Martin hit a solo home run off of Mason starter Jared DiCesare to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Patriots responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth.

Mason senior shortstop Alejandro Aponte and Acker walked and Driscoll was put on intentionally to load the bases with only one out.

After a Hawkeyes pitching change, Popatak also walked to force in Aponte from third base to extend the Patriots lead to 4-1.

With one out in the sixth, Iowa trimmed the Mason advantage to 4-2 when senior left fielder Chris Whelan walked and scored on sophomore designated hitter Tanner Padgett's RBI double to left-center.

Junior James Beasley made his Mason debut when he entered the game to start the seventh. 

After surrendering a leadoff walk and a single, Beasley settled down, getting the Hawkeyes grounding into a double play.  He then ended the inning with his first Mason strikeout.

The Patriots put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the seventh against the Hawkeyes bullpen. 

Mason used three walks to load the bases for the second time in the game. 

Aponte walked on four pitches to lead off the inning and Acker followed with a free pass.  After a strikeout, Driscoll then walked for the second time in the game to put a Patriot on every base.

Popatak didn't waste any time, swinging at the first pitch he saw and smashing a bases-clearing double into the right field corner to make the score 7-2.

Mason won on Opening Day for the first time since the 2014 season.  The Patriots defeated Morehead State, 14-4, on Feb. 15, 2014 in Spartanburg, S.C.

DiCesare (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and a walk in six innings to earn the win in his first Opening Day start.

Beasley pitched the final three innings, allowing just two hits with three strikeouts to pick up the save in his first appearance in a Mason uniform.

"We knew we were going to get a good start out of Jared," Brown said.  "He gave us a solid six innings on day one.  James came in and got the last nine outs and we never really had to think about getting into the bullpen.  That's huge because it carries your bullpen fresh into Saturday."

McDonald (0-1) surrendered four runs on five hits in four innings and took the loss for Iowa.  Junior Kyle Shimp allowed two runs in one inning and junior Trace Hoffman gave up one run in one inning of work in relief.

The Hawkeyes used six pitchers in the game.  At the plate, Iowa went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Popatak went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk and drove in four runs, while Driscoll finished 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. 

Acker reached base four times, going 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.  Senior first baseman Tim Quinn went 1-for-3 with a walk and Aponte walked twice and scored two runs.

The Patriots had at least one baserunner in six of the eight innings.  Eight players in the lineup reached base at least once in the game for Mason.

Freshman Jared Lyons made his Mason debut in left field and reached base with a walk in the eighth inning.

Mason improved to 3-1 all-time against Iowa.

The Patriots are back on the diamond on Saturday against Marshall with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla.