Box score (PDF)
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team scored four runs in the ninth, but dropped the middle game of the series to Monmouth, 9-7, on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
 
Monmouth (5-4) took the lead in the top of the second inning against Mason (4-6) sophomore starter Ryan Peterson.
 
After back-to-back singles by junior first baseman James Harmstead and junior catcher Brady Mutz, a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position.  Junior right fielder Ben Winstead drove in a run with a single to right to put the Hawks in front, 1-0.
 
The Patriots took the lead in the home half of the fourth with a two-out rally against Hawks senior starter Dan Klepchick.
 
With one out, graduate student left fielder Kamron Smith singled through the left side.  After a strike out, freshman catcher Connor Dykstra was hit bit a pitch.  Freshman center fielder Brett Ahalt beat out an infield single, with Smith scoring the tying run on the play.
 
Sophomore second baseman Brett Stallings then ripped a two-run double to left field to give the Patriots a 3-1 advantage.
 
Monmouth scored the next eight runs to build a 9-3 lead.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Hawks plated a run with a RBI-double by junior designated hitter Alex Barker.
 
In the top of the sixth, Monmouth sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs two hits and four walks against three different Mason relievers.  Hawks sophomore shortstop Dixon Black had the big hit in the inning, with his team-leading third home run of the season a grand slam over the left field fence.
 
The Patriots rallied in the ninth.  Senior pinch hitter Daniel Brooks was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Ahalt collected a one-out single to put runners on the corners.  Stallings knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly, with Brooks crossing the plate to make it 9-4.
 
Freshman right fielder Alex Knapp doubled in a run with a triple to right field to keep the inning going.  A walk to junior first baseman South Trimble, a pitching change by Monmouth and a second walk in the inning put two more on base.
 
Graduate student third baseman Danny Hosley plated two runs with a single to left center to make it 9-7, but that's as close as the Patriots would get.
 
The Patriots used seven pitchers in the game.  Peterson allowed one run on four hits in 4.0 innings in a no-decision in his first Mason start.  Freshman Diego Barrett (0-1) gave up two runs, retired one batter and took the loss.
 
For the Hawks, Klepchick (1-1) allowed three runs on five hits in 6.0 innings to earn the win.  Freshman Reed Interdonato recorded the final out to pick up his first collegiate save.
 
Ahalt went 3-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored, while Stallings drove in three runs in the game.
 
The Patriots and Hawks play the final game of the series on Sunday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Spuhler Field.