Box score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Va. – The Patriots dropped the final game of their series at Richmond, 7-2, on Sunday afternoon at Pitt Field.

Mason (18-29, 9-9 A-10) took the lead in the first inning against Richmond (23-20, 8-10 A-10) senior starter Brenden Argomaniz.

With one out, junior second baseman Brett Stallings walked and with two outs, freshman right fielder Brett Ahalt walked to put runners on first and second.  After both runners moved up a base on a failed pickoff attempt, graduate student left fielder Kamron Smith knocked in Stallings with a single to put the Patriots in front, 1-0.

The Spiders got on the board in the home half of the second against Mason sophomore starter Ryan Peterson.

Sophomore shortstop Jared Sprague-Lott led off with a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Sophomore catcher Jason Neff followed with a RBI-single through the right side to tie the game, 1-1.

In the top of the third, junior first baseman South Trimble was hit by a pitch to start the inning for the Patriots.  With one out, graduate student third baseman Danny Hosley doubled down the left field line, with Trimble scoring all the way from first to give Mason a 2-1 lead.

That would be the last run of the game for the Patriots, who were held scoreless over the final six innings by Argomaniz and Richmond relievers Josh Willitts and Alden Mathes.

Richmond took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore designated hitter Zach Lass hit a two-out, two-run home run over the left field fence to flip the score and make it a 3-2 game.

The Spiders batted around in the bottom of the seventh against Hosley, and scored four runs on three hits and three walks to extend to advantage to 7-2.

The Patriots had their streak of three straight Atlantic 10 series wins snapped.

For the Patriots, Peterson (2-2) allowed three runs on six hits in 5.0 innings and took the loss.  Hosley took over in the sixth and gave up four runs on five hits in 3.0 innings.

For the Spiders, Argomaniz (4-0) allowed two runs on two hits in 5.0 innings to earn the win.  Willitts tossed 2.2 innings on one-hit ball and Mathes pitched 1.1 scoreless.

Senior designated hitter Daniel Brooks went 2-for-4, while Hosley and Smith each drove in a run for Mason.

The Patriots play their final home series of the season when they host George Washington beginning Friday, with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.