Box score (PDF)

MIAMI, Fla. – The George Mason baseball team fell to Florida International, 3-2, in the second game of the series on Saturday at FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami, Fla.

The Patriots (1-1) and Golden Panthers (1-1) were locked in a pitcher's duel through five scoreless innings.

Mason sophomore starter Chad Gartland allowed just two singles and four total baserunners over his five innings of work.  For FIU, senior starter Christian Santana and junior Richie Pena each tossed three scoreless frames.

FIU loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth against Mason junior reliever Nick Martins with a leadoff double, a walk and a single.  Panthers junior first baseman Alex Figueroa drove in the first run of the game with a RBI groundout to put the Panthers in front, 1-0.

FIU senior left fielder Mike Rosario followed with a RBI single to left field to make it a 2-0 game.

Freshman Tyler Herkey took over on the mound and recorded the final two outs of the inning.

The Patriots evened the score in the top of the seventh against FIU junior reliever Jackson Ritchey.

Mason junior center fielder Jordan Smith jumped on the first pitch he saw from the new pitcher and belted a leadoff home run over the left field fence to cut the Panthers lead to 2-1.

Sophomore catcher Connor Dykstra was then hit by a pitch and junior third baseman Mark Trotta singled to right to put runners on the corners with no outs.

FIU made the call to the bullpen for junior Cameron Knox.  With one out, Patriots senior second baseman Brett Stallings lifted a sacrifice fly to left, with Dykstra scoring the tying run.

The Panthers went back in front in the home half of the seventh.  With one out, a walk and a single put runners on first and second before the Patriots summoned graduate student Mason Posey from the bullpen.

After a fly out, Panthers junior designated hitter Ryne Guida singled to left to drive in the eventual game-winning run.

For the Patriots, Gartland allowed two hits and struck out four with two walks over 5.0 innings in a no-decision.  Martins surrendered two runs on three hits and retired one batter in his Mason debut. 

Herkey (0-1) gave up one run on one hit in 1.0 inning in his collegiate debut.  Posey tossed 1.2 innings and allowed one hit.

For the Panthers, Santana allowed two hits over 3.0 innings and Pena tossed 3.0 hitless frames.  Ritchey gave up two runs on two hits and didn't retire a batter, while Knox didn't allow a hit over the last three innings to close the game.

Trotta went 2-for-4, Smith was 1-for-4 with a home run and Stallings finished 1-for-2 and drove in a run.

The Patriots and Panthers play the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.