BASEBALL vs. Richmond | William & Mary
WHEN:  Friday, March 5 (2 p.m.) | Saturday, March 6 (2 p.m.)
WHERE:  Spuhler Field | Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS:  Mason (0-2, 0-0 A-10), Richmond (4-0, 0-0 A-10) | William & Mary (0-3, 0-0 CAA)
LAST MEETING:  The Spiders swept a three-game series from the Patriots March 29-31, 2019 in Richmond, Va. | The Tribe defeated the Patriots, 13-3,on March 4, 2020 at Spuhler Field.
ALL-TIME SERIES:  Richmond leads Mason, 60-37-1 | Mason leads William & Mary, 63-36  
LIVE VIDEO (Friday): ESPN+ ($)
LIVE STATS: Click here
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team plays its first two home games of the season this weekend, hosting Richmond on Friday and William & Mary on Saturday, with the first pitch for both games scheduled for 2 p.m. at Spuhler Field.
 
Last time out, Mason (0-2) dropped both games of a doubleheader to Navy, 7-3 and 3-2, at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis, Md.
 
Freshmen outfielders Jordan Smith and Thomas Trinca, along with graduate student catcher Kyle Hayes and graduate student first baseman Ryan Stoudemire each made their debut in a Mason uniform.
 
Smith went 2-for-4 with two singles, a run scored and a stolen base, while Trimble was 1-for-3 with a run scored in game one against Navy in their first career game.  Stoudemire singled in game one for his first base hit with the Patriots and made his first start on the mound in game two, allowing one run on two hits in four innings of work.
 
Mason designated hitter Scott Morgan knocked in a pair of runs in game one, while shortstop Peter Nielsen drove in two runs in the nightcap against the Midshipmen.
 
Last season, George Mason and Richmond were scheduled to play a three-game series at Spuhler Field May 14-16, 2020.  
 
The last time the two teams met, the Spiders swept a three-game series from the Patriots March 29-31, 2019 at Pitt Field in Richmond, Va.
 
The Patriots played just 15 games in 2020 due to Covid-19.  Mason fell to William & Mary, 13-3, on March 4, 2020 at Plumeri Park in Williamsburg, Va.  The Tribe scored 13 runs on 10 hits.  The Patriots used six pitchers in the game.  Mason catcher Bailey Klein, outfielder Cam Reckling and infielder Corey Leadenham each had three hits. 
 
SCOUTING RICHMOND
 
Richmond posted a record of 5-12 in 2020, including a mark 2-6 at home, 2-4 on the road and 1-2 in games played at a neutral site.
 
The Spiders (4-0) opened the 2021 season with a four-game sweep against Mount St. Mary's last weekend at Pitt Field.
 
Graduate Student infielder Richie Clufo is batting .417 (5-for-12) with three RBI and five runs scored in four games.  Redshirt-junior infielder Dominic Toso is hitting .385 (5-for-13) with two doubles and three RBI in four games.
 
Redshirt-senior infielder Justin Cook has a .571 average (4-for-7) with a home run and five RBI in two games played.
 
On the mound, graduate student Colby Wyatt (1-0, 1.80), sophomore Jacob Marcus (1-0, 1.80) and freshmen Jeremy Neff (1-0, 1.80) have each pitched five innings over the Spiders first four games.
 
SCOUTING WILLIAM & MARY
 
William & Mary had an overall record of 8-9 in 2020 when the season was cancelled.  The Tribe were 8-2 at home and 0-7 on the road.
 
The Tribe dropped their first three games of the 2021 season at Charlotte last weekend.  The 49ers swept a doubleheader, 7-1 and 4-0, and won the last game of the series, 20-4.
 
Senior first baseman Tyler Soloman is batting .250 (2-for-8) with a home run in three games from the Tribe.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
 
Friday
Mason: RHP Jared Lyons (0-1, 16.20)    
Richmond: RHP Colby Wyatt (1-0, 1.80)   
Saturday
Mason: RHP Ryan Stoudemire (0-1, 2.25)
William & Mary: RHP Wade Strain (0-1, 6.23) 
 
STRIKE ZONE
 
Mason is 37-60-1 all-time against Richmond.  On March 9, 2011, the Patriots and Spiders played to an 8-8 tie with the game called in the 10th inning due to darkness.  The tie is one of eight in Mason program history.
 
The Patriots have also played to a draw against Elon, Howard, Liberty, Springfield College, Towson, Vermont and Virginia Tech.