Box score (PDF)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The George Mason baseball team fell to Maryland, 8-5, on Tuesday at Bob Smith Stadium in College Park, Md.

Mason (9-18, 1-2 A-10) freshman starter Chad Gartland and Maryland (23-6, 2-1 Big Ten) sophomore starter Logan Ott kept the game scoreless over the first two innings.

Maryland took the lead in the bottom of the third against Mason freshman Jalen Grant.  Senior center fielder Chris Alleyne led off with a walk and with two outs, he scored on a RBI-single by junior right fielder Troy Schreffler to put the Terrapins in front, 1-0.

The Patriots have allowed the first run in each of their last six games.

In the home half of the fourth, Maryland extended the lead against Mason freshman Britt Yount.  Junior catcher Riley Langerman led off with a double and sophomore designated hitter Luke Shliger was hit by a pitch.

Both players moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt before junior third baseman Nick Lorusso singled in a run, and Schliger scored on a wild pitch to make the score 3-0.

After begin held without a hit over the first four innings, the Patriots collected five singles in the top of the fifth to take the lead.

Graduate student left fielder Kamron Smith led off with a single, but was picked off at first.  Senior Daniel Brooks and freshman catcher Tyler Cotten then had back-to-back singles.  Brooks would advance to third on a fly out.

With two outs, freshman right fielder Alex Knapp singled, with Brooks crossing the plate to put the Patriots on the board.

Freshman Brett Ahalt kept the inning going with a walk and with the bases loaded, Cotten raced home on a passed ball to cut the lead to 3-2. 

The Terrapins summoned junior Will Glock from the bullpen looking for the last out of the inning.  With two runners in scoring position, junior second baseman Brett Stallings knocked in a pair of runs with a single to right field to give the Patriots the lead, 4-3.

Stallings has driven in 11 runs in his last 10 games.

The Terrapins scored three runs on two hits in the bottom of the sixth against Mason freshman Diego Barrett to go back in front, 6-4.  Senior first baseman Maxwell Costes had the big hit in the inning, with a two-run home run.

Freshman shortstop Carsen Pracht hit his second home run in as many games in the top of the eighth to pull the Patriots within a run at 6-5.

The Patriots have hit at least one home run in three straight games, and four of the last six contests.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Terrapins loaded the bases against sophomore Christian Mracna and added two insurance runs for the 8-5 final.

For the Patriots, Gartland allowed two hits and tossed two scoreless innings.  Grant gave up a run and retired two batters in the third inning.  Yount surrendered two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings.  Barrett (0-2) allowed three runs on two hits in 2.0 innings and took the loss.  Mracna gave up two runs on two hits in 2.0 innings.

For the Terrapins, Ott allowed four runs on four hits in 4.2 innings.  Freshman Ryan Van Buren (2-0) didn't allow a hit in 2.0 innings of work to earn the win.  Senior Sean Heine pitched the ninth to notch his third save of the season.

Senior first baseman Scott Morgan walked three times in four at-bats, Stallings went 1-for-4 and drove in two runs, and Pracht finished 1-for-4 with his second home run of the season.

The Patriots return to Atlantic 10 play this weekend with a three-game series against Saint Joseph's beginning Friday, with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pa.