Box score (PDF)
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – Sophomore starter Ryan Peterson pitched a complete-game three-hitter and struck out a season-high eight batters to lead the Patriots to a 4-0 shutout victory over George Washington on Sunday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
 
Peterson retired 16 of the first 17 batters he faced in the game and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing a one-out single.
 
The Patriots swept the three-game series from the Colonials to improve to 12-9 in Atlantic 10 Conference play.  Mason has won four conference series this season and won three of four A-10 series at home.
 
Mason seniors (pictured from left to right) Ben Shields, Kamron Smith, Danny Hosley, Scott Morgan, Matthew Henson, Jared Lyons, Mason Posey, Hugh O'Hara and Daniel Brooks were recognized in a pregame ceremony.
 
The three-game sweep was the first for the Patriots since taking three games against La Salle May 17-19, 2018.  It also marked the first sweep at Spuhler Field for Mason since a three-game sweep over St. Bonaventure March 24-25, 2018. 
 
Mason (21-29, 12-9 A10) took the lead in the bottom of the third against George Washington (20-29, 8-12 A10) sophomore starter Logan Koester.
 
Brooks led off with a single up the middle, freshman center fielder Alex Knapp walked, and freshman shortstop Carsen Pracht dropped down a bunt single and used his speed to load the bases.
 
Junior South Trimble then bounced into a double play, with Brooks crossing the plate to put the Patriots in front, 1-0.  A batter later, junior second baseman Brett Stallings sent a grounder to short, but reached on an error, with Knapp scoring on the play to make it 2-0.
 
The Patriots have scored the first run in 10 of their last 14 games.
 
While Peterson was dominant on the mound, the Patriots also flashed the leather behind him.
 
In the fourth, Pracht covered ground on a ball hit up the middle and threw out Colonials junior shortstop Steve DiTomaso.  An inning later, Colonials senior second baseman Noah Levin hit a slow roller down the third base line that was trouble, but Hosley bare-handed the ball and threw a strike to Trimble at first for the out to keep the no-hitter intact.
 
The Colonials got their first hit of the game in the top of the sixth when graduate student pinch-hitter Trevor Kuncl singled through the left side of the infield.
 
Mason doubled the lead in the bottom of the seventh against Koester and senior reliever Chris Knight.
 
With one out, freshman catcher Connor Dykstra tripled to left field and Brooks was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners.  Knapp then reached on a fielder's choice and went to second on a throwing error, with Dykstra cruising home to increase the lead to 3-0.
 
Pracht followed with a single to put runners on first and third, and Trimble singled to center to drive in a run to extend the advantage to 4-0.
 
George Washington put two runners on base in an inning for the first time in the top of the ninth, but Peterson enticed a ground ball to end the game.
 
For the Patriots, Peterson (3-2) scattered three singles and allowed just five total base runners in a season-high nine innings for the complete-game win.  He struck out a season-best eight batters and walked just two.
 
For the Colonials, Koester (2-2) allowed four runs on four hits in 6.2 innings and took the loss, while Knight pitched 1.1 scoreless innings.
 
Pracht went 2-for-3, while Knapp and Trimble each drove in a run in the game.
 
The Patriots conclude the regular season with three games at Davidson beginning Thursday, with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. at Wilson Field in Davidson, N.C.