• Senior Bailey Klein drove in the game-winning run in the ninth in game one.
• Senior shortstop Alejandro Aponte had four hits and four RBI in two games.
• Junior RHP James Beasley earned his first Mason win in game one.

Game One Box Score (PDF)
Game Two Box Score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team split a doubleheader with Manhattan on Sunday, with both games decided in the ninth inning.  The Patriots won a walk-off in game one, 4-3, but fell by a 3-2 final in the night cap at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.  

In game one, Mason (8-5) took the lead against Manhattan (4-8) starter John Cain in the bottom of the second.

With one out, senior designated hitter Ryan Tassone walked and senior Tim Quinn followed with a double to put runners on second and third.  Senior shortstop Alejandro Aponte then delivered a two-run double to left to put the Patriots in front 2-0.

Aponte moved to third on a groundout and scrambled home on a wild pitch to make it a 3-0 game.

Manhattan threatened in each of the first four innings, but Mason starter Nick Zegna worked his way out of trouble in each frame.

In the fifth, Manhattan loaded the bases when graduate student Shawn Blake led off with a double, freshman outfielder Nick Cimillo singled and junior designated hitter Dominic Palma walked on four pitches.

After a Mason pitching change, sophomore catcher Matt Padre drove in a run with sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 3-1.

Manhattan started the sixth with back-to-back singles.  After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, Blake ripped a two-run double to the gap in right-center to tie the game 3-3.

In the home half of the ninth, Mason sophomore outfielder Cam Reckling led off with a single and senior catcher Logan Driscoll was walked intentionally.  Senior outfielder Bailey Klein then delivered a single up the middle, with Reckling rumbling home for the walk-off 4-3 victory.

Zegna allowed one run on six hits with five strikeouts and one walk in 4.0 innings in a no-decision.  Sophomore Austin Cabone gave up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 2.2 innings of work.

Junior James Beasley (1-0) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to earn his first win in a Mason uniform.

Cain allowed three runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings in a no-decision for the Jaspers.  Sophomore reliever Teddy Sabato (0-2) surrendered one run on three hits in 2.1 innings and took the loss.

Aponte went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored, while Reckling was 2-for-4 and scored a run.

Manhattan had at least one baserunner in every inning and left 13 runners on base, while the Patriots stranded eight baserunners in the game.

In game two, the Patriots took the lead in the bottom of the fourth against Manhattan junior starter T.J Stuart.

With one out, Klein walked, senior Greg Popatak II singled and Tassone walked to load the bases.  With two outs, Aponte lined a single to right, with Klein and Popatak scoring to put the Patriots up 2-0.

The Jaspers plated a run in the fifth against Mason senior starter Brian Marconi.  Manhattan freshman outfielder Sam Franco led off with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game at 2-1.

In the top of the ninth the Jaspers used two singles and a walk to load the bases against Mason freshman Jared Lyons.

Mason sophomore Michael Yuille entered the game to try to turn the Jaspers away, but Padre delivered a two-run, pinch-hit single to lift the Jaspers to a 3-2 win.

Marconi allowed one run on three hits and struck out three in 6.0 innings in a no-decision. 

Freshman Mason Posey pitched one scoreless inning, Lyons (0-1) was charged with two runs on two hits in 1.1 inning and took the loss. 

Stuart allowed two runs on three hits with two strikeouts over 6.0 innings in a no-decision.  Manhattan senior Joe DiTorrice (1-0) retired all nine batters he faced over the final three innings in relief to earn the win.

Aponte went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while Popatak finished 1-for-4 with a run scored.

The Jaspers outhit the Patriots by a 7-3 margin in the game.

The Patriots are back on the diamond when they face No. 22 N.C. State on Wednesday, March 13, with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park in Raleigh, N.C.