Box score (PDF)
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots dropped their midweek, non-conference game against Longwood, 10-5, on Tuesday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
 
The teams split the season series with each team winning on the road.
 
Mason (16-17, 3-1 A10) fell behind Longwood (14-22, 4-8 Big South) when the Lancers plated a pair of runs in the first inning against Patriots junior starter Nick Martins.
 
With two outs and a runner on first, senior shortstop Gregory Ryan drove in the first run with a triple to right-center and graduate student left fielder Luis DeLeon followed with a RBI-double to put the Lancers in front, 2-0.
 
The Patriots responded in the bottom of the first against Longwood freshman starter Ethan Walker.
 
Mason senior third baseman South Trimble hit a lead-off home run over the right field fence to put the Patriots on the board.
 
With one out, junior center fielder Jordan Smith singled.  After sophomore designated hitter Connor Dykstra grounded into a fielder's choice, he moved to second on a wild pitch.  Junior first baseman Mark Trotta then singled through the left side, with Dykstra getting the green light around third to tie the score, 2-2.
 
After two scoreless innings, Longwood took the lead in the top of the fourth with an unearned run against Mason freshman Owen Stewart.
 
A one-out walk and a single put Lancers on the corners before junior right fielder Keondre Shelton reached on an error, with junior first baseman Drew Camp scoring from third to make it a 3-2 game.
 
In the home half of the sixth, Smith led off with his team-leading fifth home run of the season, a blast over the left field fence to tie the game, 3-3.
 
Smith has hit a home run in back-to-back games and has three round-trippers in his last five games.
 
Three Longwood relievers each pitched one scoreless inning after the Smith home run.
 
The Lancers took the lead for good in the top of the seventh, scoring a run on a wild pitch to make it 4-3.
 
In the top of the ninth, Longwood sent 12 batters to the plate, loaded the bases twice and scored six runs on four hits and three walks to extend the advantage to 10-3.
 
In the bottom of the inning, junior right fielder Derek Wood walked, stole second on went to third on a throwing error.  Senior second baseman Brett Stallings then singled in a run. 
 
Senior pinch hitter Craig Miles, Jr. singled and both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.  Sophomore pinch hitter Brandon Parks drove in the final run of the game with a ground out for the 10-5 final score.
 
The Patriots used 10 pitchers in the game.  Martins allowed two runs on three hits in 1.0 inning of work.  Stewart gave up one unearned run in 2.0 innings.  Freshmen Logan Rumberg and Michael Salina and graduate student Nolan Lamere each pitched 1.0 scoreless inning.  Freshman Connor Knox (0-3) allowed one unearned run and took the loss.
 
For the Lancers, Walker allowed three runs on six hits in 5.0 innings.  Junior Brenton Fisher (2-2) tossed a hitless sixth inning and picked up the win.
 
Smith went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, Trotta was 2-for-4 with a RBI and Trimble, Stallings and Parks each knocked in a run.
 
The Patriots begin a three-game series against VCU on Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. at The Diamond in Richmond, Va.