• Senior outfielder Brady Acker went 3-for-4.
• Senior designated hitter Ryan Tassone was 1-for-4.
• Senior third baseman Greg Popatak II finished 1-for-3 and scored a run.

Box score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team concluded its 2019 season, falling to VCU, 15-2, on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

Mason seniors (pictured from left to right) Brady Acker, Alejandro Aponte, Brian Marconi, Greg Popatak II, Tim Quinn and Ryan Tassone were recognized in a pregame ceremony.

The Patriots (19-35, 5-19 A-10) fell behind VCU (39-17, 19-5 A-10) when the Rams plated a pair of runs in the second inning against Mason junior starter Jared DiCesare.

VCU sophomore right fielder Jack Schroeder hit a two-run home run to left field to put the Rams in front 2-0.

The Rams used the long ball to increase the lead in the top of the fourth.  Sophomore first baseman Matt Stallings and senior shortstop Zack Ching each hit a solo home run, while freshman center fielder Tomas Sanchez hit a two-run homer to increase the lead to 6-0.  Mason freshman Jared Lyons entered the game and recorded the final out of the inning.

VCU sophomore starter Justin Sorokowski tossed three scoreless innings before leaving the game in the hands of the Rams bullpen.

The Patriots dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth against VCU freshman reliever Jaden Griffin.  With one out, Popatak walked and Tassone followed with a single.  After the runners advanced on a passed ball, sophomore second baseman Daniel Brooks singled through the left side, with Popatak coasting home to make the score 6-1.

The Rams scored a run in the top of the fifth on a RBI-double by Schroeder to make it a 7-1 game. 

The Patriots responded in the bottom of the inning.  Sophomore left fielder Cam Reckling led off with a walk and junior catcher Logan Driscoll followed with a single to left field.  The runners advanced on a wild pitch and Reckling would rumble home on the second wild pitch of the inning to cut the advantage to 7-2.

VCU added a single run in the top of the sixth when freshman designated hitter Logan Amiss doubled in a run to extend the lead to 8-2.

The Rams batted around in the seventh, scoring five runs on three hits and two walks to make the score 13-2.  Schroeder hit his second two-run home run of the game in the inning, while Sanchez drove in two runs with a triple off of Patriots freshman Mason Posey.

In the top of the eighth, Sanchez knocked in the final two runs of the game with a two-out double to make it 15-2.  Sanchez hit for the cycle in the game with a single in the third, a home run in the fourth, a triple in the seventh and double in the eighth.

The Rams scored 15 runs on 14 hits, while the Patriots scored two runs on eight hits in the game.

DiCesare (4-7) allowed six runs on five hits in 3.2 innings and took the loss, Lyons surrendered six runs on five hits in 2.2 innings and Posey allowed three runs on two hits in 1.1 innings.

Junior James Beasley allowed two hits and retired two batters, while Mason senior Jonathan Ostroff retired the final two batters, including a strikeout to end the game.

Sorokowski (4-1) scattered three hits over 3.0 scoreless innings to earn the win for the Rams.  VCU used six pitchers in the game.

Acker went 3-for-4, Driscoll was 2-for-4 and Popatak, Tassone and Brooks each collected a hit in the game.