Game One Box Score (PDF)
Game Two Box Score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team split a doubleheader against George Washington on Saturday at Spuhler Field.   Senior starter Jared Lyons tossed a complete-game, one-hitter to lead the Patriots to an 11-1 win in game one, while the Colonials claimed the night cap, 11-8.

GAME ONE

The Patriots (10-22, 3-10 A-10) took the lead against George Washington (19-13, 8-5 A-10) junior starter Rich Pfluger in the bottom of the first.

With one out, Mason senior right fielder Cam Reckling singled to right.  He stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher on the play.  Senior designated hitter Bailey Klein drove in his 15th run of the season with a RBI single through the left side, with Reckling coasting home to put the Patriots in front 1-0.

In the home half of the fourth, graduate student catcher Kyle Hayes and graduate student third baseman Cooper Mrowka each walked to start the inning.  With one out, senior second baseman Daniel Brooks beat out an infield single to load the bases.

Freshman center fielder Jordan Smith came through with a two-run double to right field, with Hayes and Mrowka crossing the plate to increase the lead to 3-0. 

Sophomore left fielder South Trimble then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to drive in Brooks from third to make it 4-0.

While the Patriots built the lead, Lyons did the rest.  He allowed just one double and five total baserunners in the game. 

George Washington dented the scoreboard with an unearned run in the top of the sixth.  With one out, sophomore shortstop Steve DiTomaso went all the way to third base on a throwing error and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior second baseman Noah Levin to account for the Colonials lone run of the game.

The Patriots broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring five runs on four hits.

Mrowka started the inning when he belted his fourth home run of the season off Colonials senior Kevin Sylvester, a no-doubter over the left-center field fence to make the score 5-1.

Junior Peter Nielsen walked, Brooks singled and Smith dropped down a bunt single to load the bases.  George Washington made the call to the bullpen for sophomore Jack Horn.  Trimble then doubled to right field to knock in a pair of runs to extend the advantage to 7-1.

Reckling tacked on a run with a sacrifice fly, with Smith scoring to make it an 8-1 game.  Klein then plated Trimble with a sacrifice fly and it was 9-1.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Mrowka walked, Nielsen singled and Brooks singled to load the bases for the second straight inning.  Smith ended the game with a single to right, with Mrowka and Nielsen scoring on the play for the walk-off, run-rule 11-1 victory.
 
For the Patriots, Lyons (5-2) allowed just one hit and didn't allow an earned run, with six strikeouts to earn the win.

For the Colonials, Pfluger (1-2) surrendered four runs on four hits in 3.2 innings and took the loss.  Sylvester gave up four runs on three hits in 1.1 innings, while Horn allowed three runs on four hits in 1.1 innings.

Smith went 3-for-4 with four RBI and scored a run.  He now has 19 RBI this season.  Brooks finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored.  Trimble was 1-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored.  Klein drove two runs and Mrowka scored three runs.

GAME TWO (7 INNINGS)

Mason (10-23, 3-11 A-10) fell behind George Washington (20-13, 9-5 A-10) in the first inning when senior left fielder Dominic Boselli drove in two runs with a single off of Patriots junior starter Mason Posey. 

The Patriots responded in the home half of the first against Colonials junior starter Harrison Cohen.  Trimble and Reckling each singled to start the inning and with two outs, and Hayes singled through the left side to tie the game, 2-2.

In the second, Brooks walked, sophomore shortstop Brett Stallings singled and Smith walked to load the bases.  Trimble ripped a two-run double to right field to put the Patriots up 4-2.  Trimble drove in five runs over the two games.

The Colonials reclaimed the lead in the third.  Junior first baseman Derek Ripp singled to drive in two runs and junior catcher Anthony Frechette plated another with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-4.

In the fourth, Levin hit a two-run home run off of Nielsen, who made his home pitching debut, to increase the Colonials lead to 7-4.

In the bottom of the inning, Trimble reached on a throwing error and Reckling smashed a two-run home run to make it a one-run game at 7-6.

Stallings led off the fifth with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Trimble's second double of the game put runners on second and third, and Stallings scored on a throwing error by the catcher to tie the score, 7-7. 

With runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth, Stallings singled to put the Patriots back in front, 8-7.

The Colonials took advantage of a throwing error in the top of the seventh and scored four unearned runs against junior reliever Nick Zegna for the 11-8 victory.

For the Patriots, Posey allowed five runs on six hits in 2.1 innings in a no-decision.  Nielsen gave up two runs on three hits in 2.2 innings.  Zegna (0-1) didn't allow an earned run in 2.0 innings of work and took the loss.

For the Colonials, Cohen gave up seven runs on 10 hits in 4.0 innings.  Senior Trevor Kuncl (3-1) allowed one unearned run and four hits in 3.0 innings to earn the win.

Trimble went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.  Hayes was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.  Stallings finished 3-for-4, drove in a run and scored two runs.

The Patriots and Colonials wrap up the weekend series on Sunday afternoon doubleheader, with the first pitch for game one scheduled for 1 p.m.