Box score (PDF)
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason sophomore starter Chad Gartland turned in a dominant performance, tossing a complete-game shutout with eight strike outs to lead the Patriots to an 11-0 victory over Dayton on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
 
While Gartland scattered six hits, the Mason offense was led by sophomore catcher Connor Dykstra and junior designated hitter Mark Trotta.   Dykstra smashed a two-run home run and drove in four runs, while Trotta recorded a pair of hits and knocked in three runs as the Patriots evened the series.
 
Mason (16-15, 3-2 A10) and Dayton (8-21, 3-2 A10) were scoreless going into the fourth inning when the Flyers loaded the bases with a walk and two singles.  Gartland wiggled out of the jam with an inning-ending groundout to turn the Flyers away.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Patriots sent 11 batters to the plate and exploded for seven runs on five hits against Dayton junior starter Eli Majick.
 
Trotta got the inning started with a double down the left field line and senior second baseman Brett Stallings reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners.  With one out, junior right fielder Derek Wood scratched out an infield single to second, with Trotta scoring on the play to put the Patriots in front, 1-0.
 
Sophomore shortstop Carsen Pracht beat out an infield single on a ball back to the pitcher, with Stallings racing home from third to make it 2-0.
 
After Wood was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice, freshman third baseman Evan Blanchard reached on the Patriots' third infield hit of the inning to load the bases.
 
Smith was then hit by a pitch to force in Pracht from third to extend the lead to 3-0.  The Flyers made a pitching change, with junior Parker Bard entering the game.  He hit Dykstra to force in another run and it was 4-0.
 
With the bases still full of Patriots, Trotta stepped to the plate and doubled for the second time in the inning to dive in three runs to pad the advantage to 7.0.
 
The Patriots tacked on a pair of runs in the seventh against Dayton sophomore reliever Matthew Johnson.
 
With two outs and Smith on first after a single, Dykstra crushed a no-doubt, two-run blast that whistled high into the overcast sky and over the left field fence to increase the lead to 9-0. 
 
Dykstra now has four home runs on the season and the Patriots have hit seven round-trippers in their last eight games.
Mason added on in the bottom of the eighth against Flyers' freshman reliever Caden Tarango.  Senior first baseman South Trimble ripped a one-out double to left and Blanchard followed with a RBI-single to make it 10-0.
 
With two outs, Dykstra plated the final run of the game with a double down the left field line for the 11-0 final score.
 
Gartland made quick work of the Flyers in the top of the ninth.  After a foul out to start the frame, he struck out the final two batters to wrap up the game.
 
For the Patriots, Gartland (3-2) allowed six hits, including five singles, and stuck out eight with only one walk to earn the win.
 
For the Flyers, Majick (2-2) allowed six runs on five hits in 4.2 innings and took the loss.  Bard gave up one run on one hit and retired just one batter in his outing.  Johnson surrendered two runs on four hits in 2.0 innings.  Tarango gave up two runs on three hits in the eighth.
 
Dykstra went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and scored two runs.  Trotta was 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored.  Blanchard finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored.  Smith, Wood and Pracht each drove in a run.
 
The Patriots and Flyers will play the rubber game of the series on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Spuhler Field.