Box score (PDF)

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The George Mason baseball team dropped its midweek, non-conference game against Virginia Tech, 5-3, on Wednesday at Union Park in Blacksburg, Va.

Mason (1-14) fell behind in the bottom of the first inning when Virginia Tech (11-5) sent seven batters to the plate and scored two runs against Patriots sophomore starter Patrick Halligan.

Hokies sophomore outfielder Nick Biddison and freshman outfielder Gavin Cross started the inning with back-to-back singles.  Sophomore infielder Carson Hunter then plated the first run of the game with a single to left, with Biddison racing home to put Virginia Tech in front 1-0.

Sophomore infielder Kevin Madden then knocked in Cross from third with a sacrifice fly to center field to increase the lead to 2-0.

The Patriots have allowed the first run in 11 of their 15 games this season.

The Hokies extended the advantage when sophomore catcher Carson Taylor hit a leadoff home run in the home half of the third to make it a 3-0 game. 

In the fifth, Taylor doubled and senior designated hitter Tanner Thomas delivered a two-out, RBI single to make it 4-0.

Mason dented the scoreboard in the top of the sixth.

Sophomore infielder Peter Nielsen hit his second home run in as many days, a two-out solo blast that hit the left field foul pole to cut the Hokies lead to 4-1.

Virginia Tech responded with a run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth for a 5-1 advantage.

Nielsen led off the ninth with a walk and with one out, freshman designated hitter Lyle Miller-Green hit a two-run home run over the left fence to cut the lead to 5-3.

The Patriots are back on the diamond for a weekend series against Albany beginning Friday, March 13 with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.