Box score (PDF)

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The George Mason baseball team dropped the first of a three-game series at Saint Louis, 3-0, on Friday evening at the Billiken Sports Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Mason (19-30, 5-14 A-10) senior starter Brian Marconi had a strong outing but Saint Louis (22-25, 10-9 A-10) took the lead for good in the third inning. 

Billikens junior infielder Kevin Jordan led off the frame with a double.  After a sacrifice bunt, freshman outfielder Corrigan Bartlett grounded to short, with Jordan crossing the plate to put the Billikens in front 1-0.

Saint Louis added a run in the bottom of the fifth on back-to-back hits to start the inning.  Senior infielder Shane Benes led off with a single and went to second on a throwing error.  He scored when sophomore designated hitter Ben Livorsi doubled to right field to make it a 2-0 game.

The leadoff hitter for the Billikens reached base again in the sixth.  Freshman catcher Cam Redding singled to right to start the inning.  With one out, senior infielder Cole Dubet delivered a RBI-double with Redding racing home from second to increase the advantage to 3-0.

The Patriots had six hits in the game, five singles and a double.  Mason fell to 3-17 on the road, while Saint Louis improved to 12-10 at home on the season.

Marconi (3-7) allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits and took the loss.  He struck out seven and walked only one.  Freshman reliever Stuart Barrett tossed a scoreless eighth for the Patriots.

Saint Louis senior Connor Lehmann (5-4) allowed six hits and tied his career-high with 12 strikeouts to earn the win.  Senior reliever Drew Reveno pitched two scoreless innings and struck out two to pick up his first save of the season.

Mason senior first baseman Tim Quinn went 2-for-4, while sophomore second baseman Daniel Brooks was 1-for-4 with a double.

The Patriots and Billikens play the middle game of the series on Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Billikens Sports Center.