• Sophomore second baseman Daniel Brooks went 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
• Senior shortstop Alejandro Aponte was 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored.
• Freshman right-hander Patrick Halligan tossed six scoreless innings to earn the win.

Box score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team scored 10 unanswered runs in the game and held on for a 14-13 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Wednesday afternoon at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.

The Patriots (18-26, 4-11 A-10) fell behind Mount St. Mary's (13-30, 6-12 NEC) when the Mountaineers sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the first, scoring five runs on three hits and three walks.

Mason senior Zach Skrtich made his first career start and faced three batters before freshman reliever Mason Posey entered the game in the first inning.

The Patriots responded in the bottom of the first against Mount St. Mary's sophomore starter Andrew Malone.

Mason sophomore outfielder Cam Reckling led off with a single and junior catcher Logan Driscoll and senior outfielder Brady Acker each walked to load the bases.  Reckling rumbled home on a wild pitch and with one out, junior right fielder Bailey Klein knocked in a run when he grounded into a fielder's choice to cut the lead to 5-2.

Mason freshman right-hander Patrick Halligan entered the game in the second and kept the Mountaineers guessing throughout while the Patriots chipped away at the lead.

The Patriots tied the game in the bottom of the second.  Recking singled in a run, Driscoll drove in a run with a triple to right-center and Acker plated a run when he grounded into a fielder's choice to make it a brand new game at 5-5.

In the home half of the third, sophomore second baseman Daniel Brooks hit his first home run of the season, a solo blast that soared over the left field fence to put the Patriots in front 6-5.

Mason scored a run in the bottom of the fifth against Mountaineers freshman reliever Ryan Florio. 

With two outs, Mason senior designated hitter Ryan Tassone doubled to left and Brooks followed with a RBI-single to right to make the score 7-5.

The Patriots used three singles to load the bases in the seventh.  Brooks scored on a balk by Mount St. Mary's junior reliever Sean Flynn and senior shortstop Alejandro Aponte ripped a two-run single to right field to increase the lead to 10-5.

The Mountaineers got back in the game in the top of the eighth against Mason freshman Hugh O'Hara and sophomore James Price.

Mount St. Mary's sent nine batters to the plate and scored three runs on three hits and three walks to trim the Patriots advantage to 10-8.

The Patriots added four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth against Flynn and Mountaineers freshman Noah Kirkland.

Mason loaded the bases for a second straight inning before Brooks drove in his third run of the game with a sacrifice fly.  Aponte followed with his second two-run double in as many innings and sophomore Scott Morgan then laced a pinch-hit, RBI-single to right to make the score 14-8.

The Mountaineers rallied in the top of the ninth, batting around for the third time in the game and scoring five runs on six hits to make it a one-run game at 14-13.  Mason freshman Stuart Barrett recorded the final two outs to preserve the win for the Patriots.

Mason improved to 16-3 all-time against Mount St. Mary's.  The Patriots have won six straight over the Mountaineers.

Skrtich faced three batters in his first career start and didn't figure in the decision for the Patriots.  Posey gave up two runs on three hits in 1.0 inning.  Halligan (4-4) allowed six hits over 6.0 scoreless innings to earn the win. 

O'Hara surrendered three runs on three hits in 0.2 innings, Price allowed five runs on six hits in 0.2 innings, while Barrett notched the final two outs of the game to pick up his third save of the season.

Malone allowed six runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings in a no-decision for Mount St. Mary's.  Florio was touched for three runs on four hits in 3.1 innings.  Flynn surrendered three runs on two hits in 1.1 innings and Kirkland gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits in 0.2 innings for the Mountaineers.

Brooks went 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, Aponte was 2-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI and Tassone finished 2-for-5 with three runs scored for the Patriots.

Every player in the lineup for the Patriots reached base at least once in the game.

The Patriots get back to Atlantic 10 play when they host Fordham for a three-game series beginning Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.