Box score (PDF)

EMMITSBURG, Md. – The Patriots rallied in the late innings to take the lead, but fell to Mount St. Mary's, 11-10, on Wednesday at Straw Family Stadium in Emmitsburg, Md.

The Patriots hit three home runs in the game, including freshman catcher Tyler Cotton, who hit his first collegiate home run.  Freshman pitcher Dylan Crowley made his first career start.

Mason (17-27, 8-7 A-10) took the lead over Mount St. Mary's (12-27, 5-13 NEC) in the first inning against Mountaineers freshman starter Jason Rivera.

Junior second baseman Brett Stallings and freshman Carsen Pracht each walked to start the inning.  A perfect sacrifice bunt by junior first baseman South Trimble moved both runners into scoring position, and graduate student third baseman Danny Hosley was hit by a pitch to load the bases. 

Freshman right fielder Brett Ahalt drove in Stallings from third with a sacrifice fly, and graduate student left fielder Kamron Smith knocked in Pracht with a single to put the Patriots in front, 2-0.

The Mountaineers got a run back in the bottom of the first against Crowley.  With two outs, junior center fielder Tyler Grodell reached on a bunt single, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error.  Sophomore designated hitter Aiden Tierney followed with a RBI-single to make it a one-run game, 2-1.

In the top of the second, Mason freshman designated hitter Connor Dykstra led off with a walk to set the table for Cotten, who belted a two-run home run over the left field fence to increase the lead to 4-1.

Mount St. Mary's responded in the bottom of the inning.  Junior right fielder Brady Drawbaugh led off with a double, junior left fielder Tristan McAlister reached on an error and sophomore first baseman Shane Wockley walked to load the bases with no outs.

After a line out, sophomore shortstop Tyler Long drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to trim the Patriots advantage to 4-2.

In the home half of the third, the Mountaineers sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs on two hits and three walks against Crowley and Patriots freshman reliever Diego Barrett.

With the bases loaded, McAlister forced in a run with a walk and Wockley plated another when he was hit by a pitch.  Senior catcher Thomas Bramley had the big hit in the inning off Barrett, with a grand slam over the right-center field fence to put the Mountaineers in front 8-4.

With two outs in the top of the fifth, Hosley hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot off Mount St. Mary's senior reliever Bryant Shives to make the score 8-5.

The Mountaineers got the run back in the bottom of the sixth when Bramley led off with his second home run of the game, a blast over the right field fence to extend the advantage to 9-5.

With two outs in the seventh, Hosley walked and Ahalt singled to put runners on first and second.  Smith then singled in a run and Dykstra hit his first triple of the season to the gap in left-center, driving in two more runs to pull the Patriots within a run, 9-8.

The Patriots evened the score with one swing of the bat in the top of the eighth when freshman Alex Knapp led off the inning with his third home run of the season to tie the game, 9-9. 

Stallings then walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Pracht.  After a ground out, Hosley was intentionally walked and stole second.  The Mountaineers summoned sophomore Max Moore, their second reliever of the inning, and Ahalt reached on a fielding error by the second baseman with Stallings racing home on the play to put the Patriots back in front, 10-9.

Mount St. Mary's junior reliever Blake Beal recorded the final out of the inning.

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

Mason made the call to the bullpen for sophomore reliever Christian Mracna for the bottom of the eighth.  Bramley dropped down a bunt single to start the inning and with one out, Tierney hit a two-run home run to left field to give the Mountaineers an 11-10 lead.

For the Patriots, Crowley allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits in 2.0 innings.  Barrett gave up five runs on two hits and struck out seven with four walks in 4.0 innings.  Senior Matthew Henson tossed one scoreless inning.  Mracna (1-5) surrendered two runs on three hits and took the loss.

For the Mountaineers, Rivera allowed four runs on two hits in 3.0 innings.  Shives gave up six runs, five earned, on seven hits in 4.0 innings.  Beal (2-0) notched the final four outs of the game to earn the win.

Smith went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a runs scored, Dykstra was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, Knapp finished 2-for-5 with a home run and Cotton drove in two runs with his first career home run.

The Patriots are on the road for a three-game series against Richmond beginning Friday, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Pitt Field.