Box score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Va. – The George Mason baseball team fell in the final game of its series against VCU, 11-2, on Sunday afternoon at The Diamond in Richmond, Va.

The Patriots (9-22, 2-10 A-10) took the lead in the first inning against VCU (27-14, 9-3 A-10) freshman starter Mason Delane.

With two outs, senior right fielder Bailey Klein scratched out an infield single and moved all the way to third on two wild pitches.  Senior first baseman Scott Morgan then ripped a RBI-single to right field to put the Patriots in front 1-0.

VCU responded in the home half of the first, sending eight batters to the plate against Mason graduate student starter Ryan Stoudemire.

After a single and a walk to start the frame, a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position for junior designated hitter Liam Hibbits, who drove in both with a single through the right side, to give the Rams a 2-1 lead.

VCU broke the game open in the bottom of the third, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring four runs on four hits to extend the advantage to 6-1.  Rams junior center fielder Hogan Brown had the bit hit in the inning with the bases loaded, with a two-out, bases-clearing double.

In the fourth, Hibbits doubled to the right field corner off of Mason junior reliever Stuart Barrett.  After a wild pitch advanced the runner, Rams senior outfielder Brandon Henson knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to pad the lead to 7-1.

Mason junior Peter Nielsen made his Patriots pitching debut when he took over on the mound to start the fifth.

The Patriots got a run back in the top of the seventh against VCU freshman reliever Andrew Ward. 

Mason graduate student catcher Kyle Hayes was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and sophomore left fielder Craig Miles, Jr. followed with a RBI-double to right field to make it 7-2.

VCU scored a run in the home half of the seventh when Brown drove in his fourth run of the game with a double to increase the lead to 8-2.

In the eighth, the Rams sent eight batters to the plate and added three runs on one hit for the 11-2 final score.

For the Patriots, Stoudemire (1-8) allowed eight runs on six hits in 3.0 innings and took the loss.  Barrett surrendered one run on one hit in one inning of work.  Nielsen gave up one run on two hits and struck out two batters in 2.1 innings.  Senior Thomas Bradley allowed three runs, one earned, on one hit and two walks in 1.2 innings.

For the Rams, Delane (1-0) allowed one run on four hits and struck out eight in 5.0 innings to earn the win.  Ward gave up a run on one hit and struck out five in 3.0 innings.  Freshman Jack Masloff struck out two in a hitless ninth.

Klein went 2-for-4 with two singles and scored a run, while Miles and Morgan each drove in a run for the Patriots.

The Patriots are back in action when they take on George Washington May 7-9 at Spuhler Field.