Box Score Box score (PDF)
 
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The George Mason baseball team took the lead in the ninth but dropped its midweek game at William & Mary, 4-3, on Tuesday at Plumeri Park in Williamsburg, Va.
 
Mason (2-5) jumped in front in the top of the first against William & Mary (6-3) senior starter Tom Mayer.
 
With one out, junior right fielder Derek Wood singled and moved all the way to third on two passed balls.  After junior center fielder Jordan Smith was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, junior designated hitter Mark Trotta plated a run with a groundout to put the Patriots in front, 1-0.
 
Mason redshirt freshman Konner Eaton made his first collegiate start and retired the Tribe in order in his lone inning of work.
 
William & Mary evened the score in the bottom of the second against Mason freshman Tyler Herkey. 
 
With one out, Tribe sophomore left fielder Lucas Carmichael walked, went to second on an error and advanced to third on a passed ball.  Junior catcher Nate Goranson then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to tie the game.
 
The Patriots reclaimed the lead in the top of the third.  Sophomore shortstop Carsen Pracht and senior third baseman South Trimble led off with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third.  Wood grounded into a double play, with Pracht racing home to make it a 2-1 game.
 
The Tribe responded in the home half of the fourth with a two-out RBI single by graduate student first baseman Cole Ragone to knot the contest, 2-2.
 
Mason freshman Owen Stewart took over on the mound for the fifth inning and retired the first seven batters he faced in the game.  He allowed just one hit and two baserunners in his outing before turning the game over to freshman Connor Knox for the eighth.
 
The Patriots put together a two-out rally in the top of the ninth.  Freshman left fielder James Quinn-Irons singled and stole second.  Freshman Evan Blanchard stepped the plate as a pinch-hitter and delivered with a RBI-single give the Patriots a 3-2 advantage.
 
Knox retired the first four batters he faced, including the first hitter in the bottom of the ninth.  After back-to-back walks, graduate student Mason Posey took over on the hill and got the second out of the inning on a fielder's choice ground out.
 
William & Mary freshman Jerry Barnes tied the game with a pinch-hit single that took a bad hop and went through the left side.  Freshman second baseman Noah Zertuche then drove in the winning run with a single up the middle to propel the Tribe to the 4-3 walk-off victory.
 
For the Patriots, Eaton pitched a clean first inning.  Herkey allowed two runs on five hits in 3.0 innings.  Stewart gave up just one hit over 3.0 scoreless innings.  Knox surrendered two runs on one hit in 1.1 innings and Posey (0-1) allowed two hits in the ninth and took the loss. 
 
For the Tribe, Mayer allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits in 3.0 innings.  Graduate student Zach Tsakounis gave up just one hit over 3.0 scoreless frames.  Graduate student Cory Wall (2-1) surrendered one run on two hits over 3.0 innings and earned the win.
 
Quinn-Irons went 2-for-4 and scored a run, while Blanchard and Trotta each drove in a run.
 
The Patriots play their home opener against Niagara on Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.