Box score (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Kamron Smith and Brett Ahalt each hit a two-run home run to help the Patriots even their series against Saint Joseph's with a 9-3 victory on Saturday afternoon at Smithson Field in Philadelphia, Pa.

Mason (10-19, 2-3 A-10) took the lead over Saint Joseph's (15-13, 2-3 A-10) with a big first inning against Hawks senior starter Luke Smith.

Junior second baseman Brett Stallings led off the game with a walk.  With two outs, Ahalt doubled to right field, with Stallings crossing the plate to put the Patriots in front, 1-0.

Senior first baseman Scott Morgan then drove in a run with a RBI-single to right field to make it 2-0.

Graduate student designated hitter Kamron Smith doubled the lead with one swing of the bat, belting his second home run of the season over the left field fence, a two-run blast to increase the lead to 4-0.

The four runs are the most that the Patriots have scored in the first inning this season.

With two outs in the top of the second, Stallings and freshman shortstop Carsen Pracht both singled.  After Saint Joseph's made the call to the bullpen for junior Nicholas Torres, sophomore center fielder Jordan Smith drove in Stallings from second base with the third straight base knock of the inning to make the score 5-0.

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

In the top of the third, Morgan walked and Kamron Smith singled to put runners on first and second.  Both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by senior third baseman Daniel Brooks.  Freshman Tyler Cotten followed with a two-run double to left field to extend the advantage to 7-0.

Mason graduate student starter Ben Shields cruised through the first two innings and went five innings in the game to earn his first win as a Patriot.

The Hawks got on the board in the home half of the third.  Graduated student designated hitter Tim Cavanaugh led off with a walk and junior shortstop Luca Trigiani singled.  After a ground out moved the runners up a base, Cavanaugh scored from third base on a ground out.

Saint Joseph's added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth on RBI-singles by graduate student center fielder Brendan Hueth and graduate student second baseman Liam Bendo to make the score 7-3.

Mason sophomore Christian Mracna took over on the hill in the sixth and allowed just two singles and four baserunners over the final four frames.

Ahalt padded the lead in the top of the seventh when he smashed his second home run of the season off of Hawks freshman reliever Sam Davies.  The two-run round tripper increased the lead to 9-3.

The Patriots have hit at least one home run in five straight games and six of the last eight.

For the Patriots, Shields (1-2) allowed three runs on four hits in 5.0 innings to earn the win.  Mracna tossed 4.0 scoreless innings with five strikeouts to notch his first save in a Mason uniform.

For the Hawks, Smith (4-2) surrendered seven runs on seven hits in 2.0 innings and took the loss.  Torres pitched 4.0 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.  Davies gave up one run on one hit in 1.0 inning of work.  Graduate student Mike Picollo and freshman Luke Gabrysh each tossed 1.0 scoreless inning.

Ahalt went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.  Kamron Smith was 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.  Cotten drove in a pair of runs, while Stallings and Morgan each scored two runs.

The Patriots and Hawks wrap up the series on Sunday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Smithson Field.