- Junior starter Jared DiCesare struck out a season-high nine batters in game two.
- Senior third baseman Greg Popatak II hit his second home run of the season in game two.
- Senior outfielder Brady Acker went 3-for-7 with a home run and two runs scored over two games.
Game One Box score (PDF)
Game Two Box score (PDF)
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team split a doubleheader against Dayton, falling in game one, 6-4, before defeating the Flyers, 2-0, in game two on Saturday at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.
In game one, the Patriots (15-22, 2-9 A-10) fell behind Dayton (21-17-1, 9-5 A-10) when the Flyers scored a run in the top of the first against Mason starter
Brian Marconi.
Flyers sophomore outfielder Mitchell Garrity started the inning when he was hit by a pitch. After stealing second and third, Garrity scored on a two-out RBI single by junior first baseman Eddie Pursinger to put the Flyers in front 1-0. Dayton added single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to increase the lead to 4-0.
The Patriots got a run back in the bottom of the fourth against Dayton starter Hunter Wolfe.
Mason sophomore outfielder
Cam Reckling, junior catcher
Logan Driscoll and senior outfielder
Brady Acker singled to load the bases with no outs. With one out, senior first baseman
Tim Quinn drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 4-1.
The Flyers took advantage of an error and two walks to plate a run in the top of the fifth to make it a 5-1 game.
In the home half of the fifth, Mason sophomore second baseman
Daniel Brooks singled and senior shortstop
Alejandro Aponte walked. Reckling drove in a run with a single and freshman catcher
Jack Fitzgerald knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to make the score 5-3.
The Flyers summoned junior reliever Justin Longbrake from the bullpen to pitch the sixth.
Acker reached on a fielding error to start the inning and with one out, Quinn ripped a double to left field, with Acker racing around to make it a one-run game at 5-4.
In the seventh, Dayton senior outfielder Connor Echols hit a solo home run off of Mason freshman reliever
Nick Zegna for the final run of the game.
Marconi (2-6) allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits with six strikeouts and four walks in 4.1 innings and took the loss. Zegna gave up one run on two hits with five strikeouts and three walks in 4.2 innings of work for the Patriots.
Wolfe (6-4) allowed three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and one walk in 5.0 innings to earn the win. Longbrake surrendered one unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings to pick up his second save of the season.
Reckling went 2-for-4 with a RBI and scored a run, while Quinn finished 1-for-3 and drove in two runs for Mason.
In game two, Mason starter
Jared DiCesare turned in a dominant performance, scattering three hits over eight innings of work. He struck out a season-high nine batters in the game.
Mason took the lead in the third inning against Flyers senior starter Ben Hughes when Acker hit his second home run of the season, a solo blast over the left field fence to put the Patriots in front 1-0.
Mason senior third baseman
Greg Popatak II led off the sixth inning with his second homer of the season, a solo shot off of Flyers junior reliever Cole Pletka to double the lead to 2-0.
DiCesare (2-5) allowed just three hits over a season-high 8.0 innings to earn the win. Mason freshman
Stuart Barrett tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up his second save of the season.
Hughes (1-1) gave up one run on five hits over 3.0 innings and took the loss.
Acker went 2-for-4 with a home run, while Popatak finished 2-for-3 and also hit a round-tripper.
The Patriots and Flyers play the rubber game of the series on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Spuhler Field.
