Box score (PDF)

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Patriots rallied from four runs down to tie the game but fell to Canisius, 6-4, in their final game at the Swig and Swing College Classic at Shipyard Park in Charleston, S.C.

Mason (2-4) fell behind in the first inning when Canisius (2-2) scored the first runs of the day against Patriots senior starter Ryan Peterson.

The first three Griffins batters of the game each reached base.  Senior left fielder Kenny Dodson started the inning off with a double to right and junior second baseman Max Grant followed with a RBI-double to left to put Canisius in front, 1-0.

Another double by senior center fielder Mike DeStefano put runners on the corners.  With one out, Griffins sophomore right fielder Cole Sebastian belted a three-run homer over the left field fence to increase the lead to 4-0.

Peterson settled down and didn't allow another baserunner in his outing.  He retired 14 straight batters from the first inning through the fifth inning before turning the game over to the bullpen.

While Peterson kept the Griffins off-balance, the Patriots began to chip away at the lead against Canisius freshman starter Felix Morin.

With one out in the top of the third, Mason junior center fielder Jordan Smith singled to right field and stole second.  Junior designated hitter Mark Trotta came to the plate and drove in Smith with a single to right to make it a 4-1 game.

In the top of the fifth, senior first baseman South Trimble led off with a single and stole second.  Freshman left fielder James Quinn-Irons followed with an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error to put two runners in scoring position.

Griffins sophomore reliever Ethan Hennessy unleased a wild pitch, with Trimble racing home to cut to advantage to 4-2.  Quinn-Irons moved to third on the play.  With one out, Trotta lifted a sacrifice fly to center with Quinn-Irons crossing the plate to make it a one-run game at 4-3.

The Patriots evened the score in the top of the seventh.  Quinn-Irons reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch.  Trotta came through again with a two-out, RBI-single up the middle to tie the score, 4-4.

Canisius got the run back in the bottom of the seventh.  Mason junior reliever Kyle Menaker issued a leadoff walk and Griffins graduate student pinch-runner Dylan Vincent moved to second on a ground out and went to third on a wild pitch.  With two outs, Griffins junior pinch-hitter Carlin Dick singled up the middle to knock in the eventual game-winning run.

The Griffins loaded the bases and added an insurance run in the bottom of the eight against Mason junior Christian Mracna.  Canisius graduate student shortstop Kyle Kush beat out a two-out, infield single to pad the Griffins lead to 6-4.

For the Patriots, Peterson allowed four runs on four hits and struck out six without a walk in 5.0 innings.  Menaker (0-1) gave up two runs on one hit in 1.2 innings and took the loss.  Freshman Owen Stewart faced two batters in the seventh, while Mracna pitched the ninth and surrendered one run on two hits.

For the Griffins, Morin allowed two runs on five hits in 4.0 innings, Hennessy gave up two runs on two hits in 2.2 innings and sophomore Peyton Consigli (1-0) tossed 2.1 scoreless innings to earn the win.

Trotta went 2-for-4 and drove in three of the Patriots four runs, Smith was 2-for-5 with a run scored and Trimble finished 1-for-3 with a walk, hit by pitch and scored a run.

The Patriots are back on the road Tuesday against William & Mary with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. in Williamsburg, Va.