Box score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team dropped its non-conference game against William & Mary, 5-1, on Tuesday at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.

The Patriots (15-24, 2-10 A-10) fell behind William & Mary (23-17, 5-10 CAA) when the Tribe scored the first run of the day in the top of the first against Mason freshman starter Patrick Halligan.

William & Mary senior outfielder Owen Socher led off the game with a single, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a fielding error to put the Tribe in front 1-0.

The Tribe added single runs in the second and fifth innings on a pair of sacrifice flies to increase the lead to 3-0.

Mason responded in the bottom of the third against William & Mary senior starter Nick Butts. 

Sophomore Aaron Yurko scratched out an infield single and advanced to second on a ground out.  Senior shortstop Alejandro Aponte then drove in the lone run of the game for the Patriots with a single to right field to cut the advantage to 3-1.

William & Mary added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh with back-to-back RBI singles off of freshman reliever Mason Posey.

Halligan (3-4) allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings and took the loss.  Posey surrendered two unearned runs on two hits in 2.0 innings, while juniors James Beasley and freshman Hugh O'Hara each tossed one scoreless frame.

Butts (2-0) and Tribe sophomore relievers Justin Pearson and Randy Prosperi combined on a two-hitter, allowing six total baserunners.

Butts didn't allow a hit over 3.1 innings and struck out three to earn the win.  Pearson allowed one run on two hits with four strikeouts and one walk in a career-high 4.1 innings, while Prosperi retired all four batters he faced to end the game.

Aponte went 1-for-2 with a walk and drove in the Patriots lone run of the game, while Yurko was 1-for-3 and scored a run.

The Patriots wrap up their six-game against Navy on Wednesday with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.