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AMHERST, Mass. – The Patriots scored three runs in the eighth inning to rally past Massachusetts, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field in Amherst, Mass.

The Patriots took two-of-three from the Minutemen to win their third Atlantic 10 series of the season.

Mason (16-26, 8-7 A-10) fell behind UMass (19-18-1, 7-8 A-10) in the first inning.  Minutemen graduate student left fielder Collin Shapiro led off with a solo home run off of Patriots sophomore starter Ryan Peterson.

The Minutemen doubled the lead in the bottom of the fourth.  Graduate student second baseman Drew DeMartino led off with a single, moved to second on a balk and scored on a base knock by junior designated hitter Mike Gervasi to make it 2-0.

UMass threatened in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with a pair of walks and a single.  Mason made the call to the bullpen for sophomore reliever Christian Mracna, who ended the inning with a strikeout and a fly out.

After being held to just three singles over the first seven innings against UMass graduate student starter Zach Clevenger and senior reliever Tyler Dalton, the Patriots were able to get to Dalton in the top of the eighth.

Junior first baseman South Trimble was hit by a pitch to start the inning.  With one out, sophomore center fielder Jordan Smith reached on an error to put runners on first and second.  After Trimble stole third, graduate student third baseman Danny Hosley singled through the left side to cut the lead to 2-1.

With runners on the corners, the Minutemen made the call to the bullpen for junior Jack Pawlowski.  Mason freshman right fielder Brett Ahalt plated a run with a ground out and graduate student left fielder Kamron Smith knocked in the go-ahead run with a single to give the Patriots their first lead, 3-2.

The Minutemen put runners on first and second with two singles in the bottom of the ninth, but Hosley, who took over on the hill in the eighth, preserved the win with a fly out and a game-ending strikeout.

For the Patriots, Peterson allowed two runs on five hits in 4.1 innings, Mracna (1-4) tossed 2.2 hitless innings to earn his first win with the Patriots and Hosley pitched 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts to notch the save.

For the Minutemen, Clevenger allowed just two singles in 5.0 innings and Dalton (1-3) was charged with three runs, one earned, on two hits in 2.1 innings and took the loss.

Hosley went 3-for-4 with a RBI and scored a run, Kamron Smith was 2-for-3 with a walk and RBI, and Ahalt drove in a run.

The Patriots return to the diamond when they host Towson on Tuesday with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.