Box score (PDF)

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The George Mason baseball team dropped the middle game of its three-game series against Saint Louis, 17-3, on Saturday at the Billiken Sports Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Mason (19-31, 5-15 A-10) took the lead over Saint Louis (23-25, 11-9 A-10) in the top of the second, plating the first run of the game against Billikens junior starter Cody Luther.

Mason senior third baseman Greg Popatak II led off with a walk and senior left fielder Ryan Tassone singled.  Sophomore designated hitter Scott Morgan advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt.  Sophomore second baseman Daniel Brooks drove in a run with a groundout to put the Patriots in front 1-0.

The Billikens responded in the home half of the second inning against Mason junior starter Jared DiCesare.  Saint Louis senior infielder Cole Dubet doubled and scored on freshman catcher Cam Redding's RBI-single to tie the game 1-1.

The Billikens scored a run in the fourth when Dubet grounded into a fielder's choice to make it a 2-1 game.

Saint Louis sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth, scoring eight runs on five hits and five walks to increase the lead to 10-1.

The Billikens tacked on a pair of runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh to make the score 17-1.

In the top of the eighth, Mason sophomore right fielder Cam Reckling drove in a run with a double and senior first baseman Tim Quinn knocked in a run with a single.

DiCesare (4-6) allowed seven runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings and took the loss.  Six Patriots' relievers combined to allow 10 runs on eight hits over the final 3.2 innings of the game.

Luther (7-3) surrendered one run on three hits and struck out seven in 6.0 innings to earn the win.  The Billikens used three relievers over the final three innings.

The Patriots and Billikens wrap up the series on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. (EST) at Billiken Sports Center in St. Louis, Mo.