Box score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Va. – The Patriots hit three home runs but dropped the first game of their weekend series at Richmond, 13-5, on Friday at Pitt Field.

Mason (17-28, 8-7 A-10) and Richmond (22-19, 7-9 A-10) were scoreless through two innings before the Spiders took the lead in the bottom of the third against Mason freshman starter Chad Gartland. 

Sophomore designated hitter Zach Lass led off with a walk and with two outs, he scored on a single by graduate student right fielder Christian Beal to put the Spiders in front.  Sophomore center fielder Alden Mathes followed with a single, with Beal scoring on a fielding error to make it a 2-0 game.

The Spiders then hit back-to-back home runs, with senior third baseman Dominic Toso connecting for a two-run homer, and junior left fielder Johnny Hipsman a solo blast to increase the lead to 5-0.

The Patriots were held without a hit and had just one baserunner over the first four innings against Richmond graduate student starter Brock Weirather.

Mason got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth when graduate student left fielder Kamron Smith led off with his third home run of the season, a blast over the left field fence to make it 5-1.

Freshman catcher Connor Dykstra followed with a single and with two outs, freshman shortstop Carsen Pracht belted his third home run of the season, a two-run shot to left to pull the Patriots within two runs, 5-3.

The Patriots have hit six home runs over the last two games and have belted 20 round trippers in their last 22 contests.

The Spiders scored eight runs on eight hits over the seventh and eighth innings to break the game open.

Richmond batted around and scored four runs on four hits to pull away in the home half of the seventh against Gartland and senior reliever Mason Posey.  Sophomore catcher Jason Neff hit a solo home run, Toso and Hipsman each drove in a run with a double and sophomore shortstop Jared Sprauge-Lott knocked in a run with a single to extend the lead to 9-3.

The Patriots got two runs back in the top of the eighth against Spiders sophomore reliever Eli Larson.  Junior second baseman Brett Stallings led off with a walk and graduate student third baseman Danny Hosley followed with his third home run of the season to make it 9-5.

In the bottom of the eighth, Richmond sent nine batters to the plate for the second straight inning and scored four runs on four hits against Mason senior relievers Matthew Henson and Hugh O'Hara for the 13-5 final score.

For the Patriots, Gartland (1-2) allowed seven runs on six hits in 6.2 innings and took the loss.  Posey gave up two runs on three hits and retired one batter in the seventh.  Henson was charged with four runs on three hits, and O'Hara pitched one inning.

For the Spiders, Weirather (6-3) allowed three runs on five hits in 7.0 innings and earned the win.  Larson gave up two runs on one hit in 2.0 innings.

Hosley went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run, Pracht was 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk, and Smith finished 1-for-4 with a solo homer. 

The Patriots will look to even the series on Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at Pitt Field.