Box score (PDF)

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The George Mason baseball team dropped its first game at the Swig and Swing College Classic to Rutgers, 5-4, in 10 innings on Friday at Shipyard Park in Charleston, S.C.

After three scoreless innings, Rutgers (2-2) took the lead in the bottom of the third against Mason (2-3) graduate student starter Ben Shields.

Scarlet Knights freshman catcher Hugh Pinkney led off with a single and scored on a two-out triple by sophomore shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer to put Rutgers in front, 1-0.

Shields tossed six strong innings and struck out seven before turning the game over to the bullpen.  Mason sophomore Chad Gartland entered the game for the seventh.

After a one-out double by Kuroda-Grauer and a walk by freshman Trevor Cohen, junior designated hitter Danny Melnick drove in a run with a single to right field to make it a 2-0 game. 

The Patriots were held to four singles over the first eight innings but rallied in the top of the ninth against Rutgers junior reliever Grant Besser.

Mason junior Jordan Smith and graduate student pinch hitter Ryan Archibald each drew a walk to start the inning.  Freshman James Quinn-Irons then delivered with a double down the left field line, with Smith racing home to make it a one-run game.

With runners on second and third, sophomore catcher Connor Dykstra lifted a sacrifice fly to center, with Archibald coasting home to tie the score, 2-2.

Senior Brett Stallings dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt and Quinn-Irons scrambled across the plate to give the Patriots their first lead of the night at 3-2.

Rutgers batted back in the bottom of the ninth.  After the first two batters reached base on a single and a walk, Melnick tied the game when he drove in his second run of the night with a sacrifice fly to send the game into extra innings, 3-3.

The Patriots took the lead back in the top of the 10th.  With one out, senior first baseman South Trimble scratched out an infield single and stole second base.  Smith came through with a two-out, RBI-single to left with Trimble scoring the go-ahead run to make it 4-3.

In the bottom of the 10th, Rutgers junior second baseman led off with an infield single against Mason junior reliever Tyler Herkey.  After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position, Pinkney tripled to the gap in right-center to plate the tying run.

Rutgers senior third baseman Chris Britto then gave the Scarlet Knights the walk-off win with a sacrifice fly to deep center field for the 5-4 victory.

For the Patriots, Shields allowed one run on three hits and struck out seven without a walk over 6.0 innings.  Gartland gave up two runs on three hits with three strikeouts in 3.0 innings.  Herkey (0-2) surrendered two runs on two hits in the 10th and took the loss.

For the Scarlet Knights, junior starter Drew Conover tossed 6.0 innings of three-hit ball and struck out seven without a walk.  Sophomore Sam Portnoy pitched one hitless frame, Besser allowed three runs on two hits in 1.0 inning and junior Sam Bello (1-0) recorded the final four outs of the game to earn the win.

Smith went 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored, Quinn-Irons was 1-for-4 with a RBI, while Dykstra and Stallings each drove in a run.

The Patriots return to action on Sunday against Canisius with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Shipyard Park in Charleston, S.C.