BASEBALL vs. Princeton
WHEN:  Friday, Mar. 1 (2:30 p.m.), Saturday, Mar. 2 (2 p.m.) and Sunday, Mar. 3 (1 p.m.)
WHERE:  Spuhler Field | Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS:  Mason (4-2), Princeton (0-0)
ALL-TIME SERIES:  First meeting between the two programs.
LIVE STATS | ESPN+ ($)

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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team plays its first home series of the season, hosting Princeton for a three-game series beginning Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.

Mason (4-2) defeated Longwood, 4-3, on Tuesday at Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville, Va.

The Patriots fell behind, 3-0, in the first inning before tying the game with three runs in the fifth and scoring the eventual game-winning run in the sixth inning.

Mason freshman Patrick Halligan earned the win in his NCAA debut, while junior James Beasley picked up his second save of the season.

Halligan retired 15 of 17 batters from the first through the fifth inning.  He allowed three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks over five innings.

Mason starters have pitched at least five innings in every game this season.

Relievers Austin Cabone, Jared Lyons and Beasley combined to toss four scoreless innings against the Lancers.

Redshirt senior outfielder Brady Acker leads the team in average (.316), walks (9) and runs scored (7).  He ranks second on the club in hits (6) and doubles (2).

Senior third baseman Greg Popatak II is batting .304 and leads the team in hits (7), doubles (3) and RBI (8).  Senior first baseman Tim Quinn is third on the squad in average (.278) and hits (5).

On the mound, junior Jared DiCesare (1-1, 3.75), freshman Nick Zegna (1-0, 0.00) and senior Brian Marconi (1-1, 5.23) are the probable weekend starters for the Patriots.

Mason and Princeton will meet for the first time in program history.  The Tigers will be playing their first games of the season.

Mason finished the 2018 season with a record of 15-7 at Spuhler Field.  The Patriots won all six of their home series during the season.  Mason swept a three-game series from St. Bonaventure and took two-of-three from Fairfield, Lafayette, Richmond, Massachusetts and Saint Joseph's.

SCOUTING REPORT

Princeton finished the 2018 season with an overall record of 10-27, including a mark of 7-14 against Ivy League opponents.  The Tigers went 3-11 at home and 7-16 on the road last season.

Senior infielder Joseph Flynn hit .235 during the 2018 campaign.  He led the club in home runs (4) and RBI (25) and ranked fourth in hits (32).

Junior outfielder Connor Nolan finished fourth on the squad with a .252 average.  He led the team in stolen bases (6) and ranked second on the team in doubles (6), home runs (3) and RBI (22).

Sophomore infielder Taylor Beckett finished third on the team in average (.269) and doubles (5). 

Senior Tanner Kliewer tied for third on the team with 10 appearances out of the bullpen and led the club in saves (3) during the 2018 season.  He posted a 1-2 record with a 6.08 ERA.  Kliewer allowed 19 runs (16 earned) on 25 hits in 23.2 innings of work.

Senior Ryan Smith led the Tigers with 10 starts a year ago.  He went 1-5 with a 6.00 ERA.  Smith allowed 39 runs (32 earned) on 54 hits in 48 innings.

Junior closer Eli Kimbell led the team with a 2.43 ERA and was second in the team in appearances (11) and saves (2).  He recorded 38 strikeouts in 29.2 innings of work.

STRIKE ZONE

Princeton was predicted to finish sixth in the Ivy League Preseason Media Poll.

Yale, the 2018 regular-season Ivy League Champion, was selected first with 11 first-place votes. 

Columbia, the 2018 Ivy League Championship Series winner, was picked to finish second, followed by Dartmouth, Penn, Harvard, Princeton, Cornell and Brown.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Friday:  RHP Jared DiCesare (1-1, 3.75) vs. RHP Tanner Kliewer
Saturday:  RHP Nick Zegna (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP James Proctor
Sunday:  LHP Brian Marconi (1-1, 5.23) vs.  RHP Andrew Gnazzo