BASEBALL at Georgetown and Towson
WHEN: Tuesday, April 5 (4 p.m.); Wednesday, April 5 (3 p.m.)
WHERE: Washington Nationals Youth Academy | Washington, D.C.; John Schuerholz Park | Towson, Md.
RECORDS: George Mason (14-13, 2-1 Atlantic 10); Georgetown (16-12, 2-1 Big East); Towson (8-22, 2-10 CAA)
ALL-TIME SERIES: Mason leads Georgetown, 34-22; Mason leads Towson 50-44-1
LAST MEETING: The Hoyas defeated the Patriots, 18-13, this season on March 7 at Spuhler Field; The Patriots defeated the Tigers, 8-6, on May 3, 2022 at Spuhler Field.
AT GEORGETOWN:  WATCH ($) | LIVE STATS
AT TOWSON: WATCH ($) | LIVE STATS

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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team plays a pair of midweek road games before returning to Atlantic 10 play this weekend.

The Patriots face Georgetown for the second time this season on Tuesday with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy in Washington, D.C.  Mason will travel to take on the Tigers on Wednesday with the first pitch slated for 3 p.m. at Schuerholz Park in Towson, Md.

Last time out, the Patriots defeated Rhode Island, 5-0, to take two-of-three in the first league series of the season. 

Redshirt freshman Konner Eaton, junior Christian Mracna and graduate students Mason Posey and Nolan Lamere combined on a one-hitter.   

The Patriots rank fourth in Division I baseball in stolen bases with 87 in 27 games.  Only VMI (115), Mississippi Valley (113) and Louisiana (88) have more.  Senior infielder South Trimble is tied for 17th in the NCAA with 17 stolen bases. 

Mason is tied for 20th nationally in hit by pitch (53 in 27 games) with sophomore catcher Connor Dykstra sixth in the NCAA (14 times in 26 games).

Freshman outfielder James Quinn-Irons leads the Patriots with a .425 average (34-for-80) in 21 starts.  He also leads the club in hits (34), home runs (4) and is second in both runs scored (25) and is second in RBI (20).  Dykstra is batting .329 (26-for-79) with three home runs, 14 RBI and 19 runs scored in 26 starts.  He leads the team in hit by pitch (14), is tied for second in home runs (3) and is fifth in both hits (26) and RBI (14).

Trimble is hitting .302 (29-for-96) with one home run, 19 RBI and 27 runs scored in 27 starts.  He leads the team in runs scored (27), stolen bases (21) and walks (16), is second in doubles (5) and hit by pitch (11) and third in hits (29).  Junior outfielder Jordan Smith has a .288 average (30-for-104) with two home runs, 16 RBI and 23 runs scored in 26 starts in center field.  He is second on the club in both hits (30) and stolen bases (14), third in runs scored (23) and is fourth in RBI (16).

The Patriots have a team batting average of .275 through 27 games.

On the mound, graduate student Ben Shields (5-1, 3.76) leads the team in strikeouts (53) and is second in innings pitched (38.1) in seven starts.  He was selected Atlantic 10 Co-Pitcher of the Week after recording 14 strikeouts with just one walk over 7.0 innings in the Patriots' 7-6 win at Rhode Island on Friday. 

Sophomore Chad Gartland (2-2, 2.68) is first on the team in innings pitched (40.1) and is second in strikeouts (37) in seven appearances with six starts.

Eaton (1-1, 2.12) is third on the club in innings (17.0) and strikeouts (20).  Mracna (1-0, 2.45) shares the team lead in appearances (11) and has notched three saves.

The Patriots have a team ERA of 4.82 through 27 games.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS
 
Mason has 16 returners and added 23 newcomers on the roster heading into the season under Shawn Camp, who enters his first year as the head coach of the Patriots, won his first game as a head coach on Feb. 17 with an 8-2 victory at Florida International.
 
Returning for the Patriots are graduate student pitchers Hugh O'Hara, Mason Posey and Ben Shields.  The Mason senior class includes outfielder Craig Miles, Jr., pitcher Ryan Peterson, infielder Brett Stallings and infielder/outfielder South Trimble.

The junior class includes pitcher Christian Mracna and outfielder Jordan Smith.  Sophomores returning for their second year with the Green and Gold are pitchers Jalen Grant, Chad Gartland and Britt Yount, catcher Connor Dykstra, infielder Carsen Pracht and outfielder Alex Knapp.  Redshirt freshman pitcher Konner Earton also enters his second year.
 
The Patriots added 23 new players, with 18 freshman, three sophomores and four graduate students entering their first year at George Mason.
 
Rookie pitchers joining the Patriots are Ryan Edmonds (RHP), Chris Fidanza (RHP), Tyler Herkey (LHP), Connor Knox (RHP), Logan Rumberg (RHP), Michael Salina (RHP), Kyle Smith (RHP) and Owen Stewart (RHP).
 
New position players include freshmen Evan Blanchard (INF), A.J. Martin (INF), Brady Powell (INF), Bennett Shealor (C) and James Quinn-Irons (OF).
 
The Patriots brought on a total of nine transfers.  Juniors Nick Martins (RHP), Kyle Menaker (RHP) Mark Trotta (INF) and Derek Wood (OF), along with sophomores Brandon Parks (OF), Dylan Winebrenner (C) and Reece Woody (OF).
 
The Patriots also added three graduate student transfers, Ryan Archibald (INF), Robbie Dudzinski (RHP) and Nolan Lamere (RHP).

GEORGE MASON 2023 SCHEDULE

The Patriots are scheduled to play a 56-game slate that includes 24 contests against Atlantic 10 Conference rivals, 28 games at Spuhler Field and matchups against two opponents that made a NCAA Regional appearance last season.

The Patriots began the season with eight straight games on the road from Feb. 17 through Feb. 28. 

George Mason played its first series of the 2023 campaign with three games against Florida International University in Miami, Fla. (Feb. 17-19).  The Patriots won the first game, 8-2 and the series finale, 5-2, while the Panthers claimed the middle game of the series, 3-2.

Mason fell to James Madison, 10-2, in Harrisonburg, Va. (Feb. 21).  At the Swig and Swine College Classic in Charleston, S.C. (Feb. 24-26) the Patriots lost to Rutgers, 5-4 in 10 innings and fell to Canisius, 6-4.  The Patriots wrapped up the road stretch against William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. (Feb. 28) with the Tribe scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 victory.

The eight road games to start the season are the most since the Patriots played the first eight away from home in 2017.

In March, Mason is scheduled to play 14 games at home and 13 games on the road.  To begin the month, the Patriots will play a season-high 14 straight games at Spuhler Field, with three weekend series and three midweek contests.

Mason began the homestand against Niagara with a four-game series (March 4-5).  The Patriots won both games of their Saturday doubleheader, 15-2 and 6-3.  The Purple Eagles won both games of the Sunday doubleheader, 8-4 and 7-2.
Mason fell to Georgetown, 18-13, in a lone midweek game (March 7). 

The Patriots swept their three-game series against St. Peter's.  Mason took both games of a doubleheader, 15-6 and 9-1 (March 11) and won the finale, 12-4 (March 12).  Mason then swept three games from Cornell.  The Patriots took both games of a doubleheader, 10-5 and 4-3 (March 18), and then won the final game, 15-4 (March 19) to extend their winning streak to seven games.

The Patriots dropped their midweek matchup against William & Mary, 16-10 (March 21).

The Patriots went 13-12 at home in 2022, including a mark of 8-4 against A-10 opponents.

Mason is scheduled to play a season-high nine straight games on the road from March 24 through April 5.

The Patriots were swept in a three-game series at No. 10 East Carolina in Greenville, N.C. (March 24-26).  The Pirates won by final scores of 11-3, 8-1 and 5-0.  Mason topped Longwood, 13-6, at Buddy Bolding Stadium in Farmville, Va. (March 29).  In the first a-10 series of the season, the Patriots took two-of-three from Rhode Island at Bill Beck Field in Kingston, R.I.  The Patriots won the first game of a doubleheader, 7-6, while the Rams won the nightcap, 8-4 (March 31).  Mason won the series finale, 5-0, on a combined one-hitter (April 2).

Mason plays its only set of back-to-back midweek games during the season against Georgetown in Washington, D.C. (April 4) and Towson in Towson, Md. (April 5).

The Patriots are scheduled to play 11 games at home and seven on the road in April.

The Patriots play 11 of 14 games at Spuhler Field beginning with a three-game league series against Dayton (April 7-9) and a Tuesday meeting with Longwood (April 11).

Mason is on the road for a weekend series when they travel down I-95 to face VCU in Richmond, Va. (April 14-16).  Last year, the Rams finished first in the Atlantic 10 during the regular season and won the 2022 A-10 Baseball Championship to earn a spot in the Chapel Hill, N.C. Regional in the NCAA Tournament. 

The Patriots then return home for a seven-game homestand.  Mason begins with a three-game series against A-10 foe St. Bonaventure (April 21-23), plays a non-conference midweek tilt against Mount St. Mary's (April 25) and then wraps up the month with a three-game conference set against Richmond (April 28-30).

The Patriots will play eight straight on the road to begin the month of May.  Mason travels to meet Navy in a midweek matchup (May 3), then heads north for three games against Fordham in Bronx, N.Y. (May 5-7).  The Patriots collide with the George Washington Colonials in a three-game series in the Revolutionary Rivalry in Washington, D.C. (May 12-14) and end the stretch against Maryland-Eastern Shore in Princess Ann, Md. (May 16).

The Patriots conclude the regular season when they host Saint Joseph's at Spuhler Field (May 19-21).

The Patriots will play three home-and-home series during the 2023 season, taking on Georgetown, Longwood and William & Mary for single games at home and on the road.

Mason plays eight league series, four at home and four on the road.

Home series against A-10 foes include three-game weekend sets against Dayton (April 7-9), St. Bonaventure (April 21-23), Richmond (April 28-30) and Saint Joseph's (May 19-21).

The Patriots will visit Rhode Island (March 31-April 2), VCU (April 14-16), Fordham (May 5-7) and George Washington (May 12-14).

The 2023 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship will be held May 23-27 at The Diamond in Richmond, Va.

SCOUTING GEORGETOWN
 
Georgetown has an overall record of 16-12 including a mark of 2-1 in Big East play.  The Hoyas are 7-1 at home, 5-9 on the road and 4-2 in games played at a neutral site.

Last time out, the Hoyas won two-of-three at Villanova in their first Big East series of the season.  Georgetown won the opener, 10-5, dropped the middle game, 14-5 and then took the finale, 11-1.

The Hoyas are 4-0 against A-10 teams with a three-game sweep over Dayton (March 24-26) and a win against the Patriots (March 7).

Graduate student outfielder Ubaldo Lopez has a .361 average (35-for-97) with nine home runs, 29 RBI and 29 runs scored in 28 starts.  He leads the club in home runs, RBI, runs scored and doubles (7) and is second in hits (35).

Junior infielder/outfielder Jake Hyde is batting .324 (36-for-111) with seven home runs, 26 RBI and 22 runs scored in 28 starts.  He leads the team in hits (36) and is second in home runs and RBI and is third in runs scored.

Graduate student infielder Austin Kretzschmar is hitting .274 (29-for-106) with four home runs, 24 RBI and 18 runs scored in 28 starts.  He is third on the club in both hits and RBI and is fifth in runs scored.

Georgetown has a team batting average of .267 through 28 games.

On the mound, graduate student Cody Jensen (5-1, 4.30) leads the team in wins and is third in both innings pitched (29.1) and strikeouts (27) in eight appearances with six starts.  Sophomore Andrew Williams (1-3, 4.29) leads the team in innings (35.2) and is second in strikeouts (36) in eight appearances with seven starts.

Graduate student Jake Bloss (3-2, 2.57) leads the club in strikeouts (39) and is third in innings pitched (35.0) in seven appearances with six starts.  Graduate student Tyler Mead (0-2, 4.41) has notched four saves in 10 appearances.

The Hoyas have a team ERA of 4.86 through 28 games.

SCOUTING TOWSON

Towson has an overall record of 8-22 including a mark of 2-10 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play.  The Tigers are 4-10 at home, 3-10 on the road and 1-2 in games played at a neutral site.

Towson is scheduled to host UMCB on Tuesday, April 4, with the first pitch slated for 3 p.m. at Schuerholz Park.

Mason has won eight of the last 13 meetings against Towson, but the Tigers have won the last three games played between the two teams at Schuerholz Park.

The Tigers have dropped 10 of their last 12 games, including two-of-three against Elon last weekend.  Towson won the first game of the series, 6-1, before falling in the final two contests, 17-5 and 4-1.

Senior outfielder James Moses has a .324 average (34-for-105) with one home run, eight RBI and leads the team with 28 runs scored in 27 starts.  He shares the team lead with 11 stolen bases.

Freshman infielder Casey Bishop is batting .316 (36-for-114) with one home run, 14 RBI and 22 runs scored in 29 games with 28 starts.  He is second on the club in hits (36), runs scored (22) and tied for first in stolen bases (11).

Junior outfielder Jeremy Wagner is hitting .270 (31-for-115) with two home runs, nine RBI and 19 runs scored in 30 starts.

Towson has a team batting average of .256 through 30 games.

On the mound, junior Nate Nabholz (0-0, 2.61) leads the team in innings pitched (31.0) and strikeouts (34) in 10 appearances with one start.  Junior Justin Rebok (2-1, 4.45) is second on the club in innings (30.1) and strikeouts (20) in nine appearances with six starts.

The Tigers have a team ERA of 6.51 through 30 games.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Mason: RHP Ryan Edmonds (0-0, 5.63)
Georgetown: TBD

Mason: RHP Nick Martins (1-1, 9.49)
Towson: RHP Justin Rebok (2-1, 4.45)

STRIKE ZONE

Mason and Georgetown have met 56 times, with the Patriots holding a 34-22 lead in the all-time series.  The Hoyas have won nine of the last 12 meetings against the Patriots dating back to the 2016 season.

The Patriots have 50 all-time wins against Towson, third-most in program history against an opponent.  Mason has recorded 53 wins against James Madison and 51 against VCU.