Game One Box Score (PDF)
Game Two Box Score (PDF)
KINGSTON, R.I. – The Patriots split a doubleheader against Rhode Island to begin Atlantic 10 Conference play on Friday at Bill Beck Field in Kingston, R.I.
In the first game, graduate student starter
Ben Shields struck out a season-high 14 batters over seven strong innings, while sophomore catcher
Connor Dykstra and sophomore first baseman
Reece Woody each hit a home run to lead the Patriots to a 7-6 win.
The Rams built an early lead and won the nightcap, 8-4, to even the series.
GAME ONE
Mason (13-12, 1-0) fell behind Rhode Island (8-13, 0-1) in the first inning. With one out and runners on first and second after a single and hit batter, junior right fielder Eric Genther singled in a run to put the Rams in front, 1-0.
The Patriots evened the score in the top of the second. Dykstra led off with a double to left field and moved to third on a ground out. Woody then grounded to second, with Dykstra racing home to tie the game, 1-1.
With one out in the home half of the third, junior second baseman Addison Kopack doubled to right-center and freshman first baseman Michael Anderson doubled down the right field line to give the Rams a 2-1 lead.
After the RBI-double, Shields was unhittable, retiring 13 of the next 14 batters from the third through the seventh before turning the game over to the bullpen. He finished his outing with a season-high 14 strikeouts.
In the top of the sixth, Mason sent eight batters to the plate and scored five runs on three hits against Rhode Island junior starter Sean Sposato and junior reliever Broc French to take control.
Sophomore shortstop
Carsen Pracht led off with a walk and senior third baseman
South Trimble was hit by a pitch to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, junior center fielder
Jordan Smith plated a run with a sacrifice fly to make it a 2-2 game.
Dykstra knocked in a run with a double to left field and graduate student designated hitter
Ryan Archibald plated a run with a single to vault the Patriots to a 4-2 lead.
Woody then stepped to the plate and hit his first home run as a Patriot, a two-run blast over the right field fence to extend the advantage to 6-2.
In the top of the eighth, Dykstra smashed a solo home run over the left field fence for an important insurance run to make it 7-2.
Rhode Island scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Patriots lead to 7-5. Mason junior
Christian Mracna came in from the bullpen to end the inning with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the ninth, Rams sophomore catcher Rob Butler led off with a walk, went to second on a passed ball and raced to third on a wild pitch. He then scored on a ground out to make it a one-run game, but Mracna closed the door with a pair of fly outs to preserve the 7-6 win.
For the Patriots, Shields (5-1) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out 14 batters with just one walk to earn the win. Freshman
Owen Stewart gave up three runs and retired one batter in the eighth. Senior
Mason Posey allowed two hits and retired one batter in the eighth. Mracna gave up one unearned run in 1.1 innings of work to notch his third save of the season.
For the Rams, Sposato (1-3) surrendered five runs on four hits in 5.2 innings and took the loss. French allowed one run on one hit and retired one batter in the sixth. Freshman Brandon Hsu gave up one run on one hit in 2.0 innings and freshman Jeremy Urena tossed a scoreless ninth.
Dykstra went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored, while Woody was 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBI.
GAME TWO
Mason (13-13, 1-1) fell behind Rhode Island (9-13, 1-1) when the Rams scored three two-out unearned runs on three hits in the first inning against Patriots sophomore starter
Chad Gartland.
Rams freshman designated hitter Nicholas Toro doubled in a run, Butler singled in a run and Rhode Island plated another on a wild pitch in the inning.
Rams junior starter Trystan Levesque held the Patriots without a hit through the first four innings, retiring the first 12 batters of the game with eight strikeouts.
In the top of the fifth, Dykstra led off with a single, stole second and went to third on a throwing error. With two outs, Woody hit his second home run of the day, a two-run shot to right field to make it a one-run game at 3-2.
Rhode Island scored a single run in the sixth on a leadoff home run by Genther and another run in the seventh on a RBI-double by junior shortstop Alex Ramirez for a 5-2 advantage.
Woody led off the eighth with a single, scrambled to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a ground out. Pracht then knocked in Woody with a ground out to make it 5-3.
The Rams batted around in the bottom of the eighth against three Mason relievers and scored three runs on two hits and three walks to build an 8-3 lead.
Smith singled and scored on a wild pitch in the ninth for the 8-4 final score.
For the Patriots, Gartland (2-2) allowed five runs, two earned, on six hits in 7.0 innings and took the loss. In the Rams eighth inning, freshman
Tyler Herkey gave up three runs on two hits, sophomore
Britt Yount retired two batters, walked two and struck out two and graduate student
Nolan Lamere got the final out of the frame with a strikeout.
For the Rams, Levesque (4-2) allowed two runs on three hits in 7.0 innings to earn the win. Junior Zach Fernandez and sophomore Ryan Andrade each gave up a run in an inning of work.
Woody was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Smith and Dykstra each had two hits and scored a run.
After an off day on Saturday, the Patriots and Rams wrap up the series on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for noon at Bill Beck Field in Kingston, R.I.
