Box score

FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots rallied from four runs down to defeat VCU, 7-6, in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

Mason (9-15, 1-0 A-10) fell behind when VCU (13-11, 0-1 A-10) scored in the first inning against senior starter Jared Lyons.

VCU junior first baseman Michael Haydek led off the game with a solo home run to left field to put the Rams in front, 1-0.

In the top of the second, the Rams put two runners on base with a pair of walks before Haydek hit a three-run home run over the left field fence to increase the lead to 4-0.

The Patriots responded in the home half of the second against VCU sophomore starter Mason Delane.

With one out, graduate student Kamron Smith singled to left field before freshman right fielder Yogie Hartigan grounded into a fielder's choice.  Freshman shortstop Carsen Pracht then drew a four pitch walk to put runners on first and second.

Junior shortstop Brett Stallings followed with a two-out, RBI-single to make it a 4-1 game.  Stallings has at least one RBI in each of his last seven games.

The Patriots evened the score in the bottom of the fourth, and would go on to score seven unanswered runs in the game.

Kamron Smith led off the fourth inning with a double and Hartigan beat out a bunt single to put runners on the corners.  Pracht then drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt to cut the VCU lead to 4-2.

With two outs, the Rams made the call to the bullpen for junior Maddison Furman.  Mason sophomore center fielder Jordan Smith ripped a RBI-single to right field, with Hartigan racing home to make it a one-run game.

Jordan Smith has at least one hit in eight of his last 10 games.

Graduate student third baseman Danny Hosley kept the inning going with a walk, and freshman catcher Connor Dykstra plated the game-tying run with a single to left-center to make it 4-4. 

Dykstra has at least one hit in each of his last four games.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Hartigan singled down the left field line and Pracht reached on a fielding error by the shortstop.  Both players moved into scoring position on a passed ball, and Hartigan rumbled home on a wild pitch to give the Patriots their first lead of the game, 5-4.

Mason freshman Chad Gartland took over on the mound in the sixth and retired the first seven batters he faced in the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Patriots scored a run against VCU freshman Chase Hungate.  With two outs, Kamron Smith singled to center for his third hit of the game, and he scored when Pracht singled through the left side to extend the advantage to 6-4.

Mason tacked on an important insurance run in the home half of the eighth against VCU junior Jaden Griffin.

Jordan Smith and Hosley each singled to start the frame.  After Smith stole third, Dykstra knocked in his second run of the game and 13th of the season to pad the lead to 7-4.

The Rams rallied to score two runs on three hits in the top of the ninth, before Gartland struck out freshman pinch hitter Casey Gibbs to end the game and preserve the win for the Patriots.

The Patriots scored five of their seven runs in the game with two outs.

For the Patriots, Lyons (3-3) allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out seven in 5.0 innings to earn the win.  Gartland gave up two runs on four hits and fanned five in 4.0 innings to notch his second save of the season.

For the Rams, Delane allowed one run on three hits in 2.0 innings.  Furman gave up two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings.  Hungate (3-2) surrendered three runs, two earned, on six hits in 3.0 innings and took the loss.

Kamron Smith finished 3-for-4 and scored two runs, Jordan Smith went 2-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored, Hartigan was 3-for-4 and scored three runs, while Dykstra and Pracht each drove in a pair of runs for the Patriots.

The Patriots and Rams continue the series on Saturday afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. at Spuhler Field.