Box score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team dropped its midweek matchup against Georgetown, 18-13, on Tuesday at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.

The two teams combined for 31 runs and 33 hits in the game.

Mason (4-8) took the lead in the first inning against Georgetown (7-5) graduate student starter Collin Gardner.

Senior second baseman South Trimble led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and went to third on a fly out.  With one out, junior center fielder Jordan Smith plated Trimble with a ground out to put the Patriots in front, 1-0.

The Hoyas took the lead in the top of the second against Mason freshman starter Tyler Herkey.  With one out, graduate student shortstop Austin Kretzschmar hit a solo home run to left-center to tie the game.  The Hoyas then loaded the bases with three singles before junior first baseman Jake Hyde walked to force in a run to make it 2-1.

Mason responded in the home half of the second.  Graduate student designated hitter Ryan Archibald walked and freshman left fielder Brady Powell beat out an infield single to put runners on first and second.  Sophomore first baseman Reece Woody moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.

Archibald raced home on a wild pitch and freshman catcher Bennett Shealor drove in his first collegiate run with a sacrifice fly to give the Patriots a 3-2 advantage.

After a scoreless third inning, Hyde hit a three-run home run to right-center in the top of the fourth against Mason freshman Ryan Edmonds to give the Hoyas a 5-3 edge.

The Patriots batted around and reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth.  Woody singled and Shealor walked to start the frame.  After a fielder's choice ground out by junior right fielder Derek Wood, Trimble knocked in a run with a single to right. 

Georgetown senior Ayden Head took over on the mound.  Senior shortstop Brett Stallings then reached on a fielding error with Wood scoring on the play to even the score, 5-5.  Jordan Smith drew a walk to load the bases and Mason forged in front on a sacrifice fly by junior third baseman Mark Trotta, 6-5.

In the top of the seventh, the Hoyas sent 15 batters to the plate and scored 11 runs on nine hits against Mason freshman Owen Stewart and junior A.J. Martins to take a commanding 16-6 lead.  Georgetown junior second baseman Michael Eze had the big hit in the inning with a grand slam to right-center.

The Patriots chipped away in the home half of the eighth with four runs.  Stallings, Trotta and Archibald each plated a run with a RBI-single in the inning to cut the Hoyas lead to 16-10.

Georgetown added a pair of two-out insurance runs in the top of the ninth against graduate student Kyle Smith.  Freshman right fielder Travis Ilitch knocked in a run with a triple and graduate student center fielder Zaid Walker plated a run with a double to extend to advantage to 18-10.

In the bottom of the ninth, Wood walked and senior right fielder Craig Miles, Jr. singled to start the inning.  With one out, Stallings delivered with a RBI-single and Jordan Smith followed with a two-run single for the final runs of the game and the 18-13 final score.

For the Patriots, Herkey allowed two runs on five hits in 2.0 innings, Edmonds gave up three runs on three hits in 2.0 innings and Stewart (0-1) surrendered five runs on six hits in 2.2 innings.  Martins allowed six runs on three hits, freshman Logan Rumberg tossed 1.1 scoreless and Kyle Smith gave up two runs on two hits in the ninth.

Georgetown used eight pitchers in the game.  Garner allowed six runs on four hits in 4.1 innings before turning the game over to the bullpen in the fifth inning.

Stallings went 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored, Jordan Smith finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and one run scored and Trotta finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

The Patriots host Saint Peter's for a four-game series beginning Friday, with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.