Box Score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team dropped the final game of its series to Dayton, 6-5, on Sunday at Spuhler Field in Fairfax, Va.

Mason (16-16, 3-3 A10) took the lead over Dayton (9-21, 4-2 A10) in the bottom of the first against Flyers senior starter Ryan Steinhauer.

Senior first baseman South Trimble led off with an infield single to shortstop, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error.  After a walk to senior second baseman Brett Stallings, junior center fielder Jordan Smith grounded into a fielder's choice with Trimble racing home to put the Patriots in front, 1-0.

The Patriots have scored the first run in five of their last six games.

Dayton loaded the bases for the second straight inning and took the lead in the top of the second against Patriots redshirt freshman starter Konner Eaton.

With two outs and the bases loaded on two singles and a walk, Flyers senior first baseman Marcos Pujols singled through the right side to drive in two runs to give Dayton a 2-1 lead.  With runners on the corners, the Patriots tried to pick off Pujols at first and Flyers sophomore third baseman Mason Dobie reacted quickly from third and stole home to make it 3-1.

In the home half of the fourth, the Patriots sent eight batters to the plate and tied the score.

Stallings began the inning when he reached on a fielding error by the second baseman.  Smith followed with a RBI-double to left, going to third on the throw, to make it a one-run game at 3-2.  Sophomore catcher Connor Dykstra then drove in his 19th run of the season with a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game, 3-3.

With a Patriot at every base, the Flyers summoned junior Nick Wissman from the bullpen and he recorded the final out of the inning.

Mason graduate student reliever Kyle Smith took over on the mound in the third inning and retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced.

In the top of the sixth, Dayton sophomore designated hitter Matt Maloney led off with his third home run of the season against Kyle Smith to give the Flyers the edge, 4-3.

The Flyers tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh against Patriots senior Mason Posey on a two-out, two-run single to extend the advantage to 6-3.

Mason responded in the bottom of the inning.  Sophomore shortstop Carsen Pracht reached on a fielding error and with two outs, Jordan Smith hit a two-run home run to pull the Patriots within one, 6-5.

In the bottom of the eighth, junior right fielder Derek Wood was hit by a pitch and freshman third baseman Evan Blanchard walked to put two on with one out, but Flyers graduate student Andrew Zapka ended the threat with a strikeout and a groundout.

For the Patriots, Eaton allowed three runs on four hits in 2.0 innings.  Kyle Smith gave up one run on two hits in 4.0 innings.  Posey (1-2) allowed two runs on three hits in the seventh and took the loss.  Junior Kyle Menaker pitched the eighth and classmate Christian Mracna worked the ninth.

For the Flyers, Steinhauer allowed three runs on three hits in 3.2 innings.  Wissman (2-1) gave up two unearned runs on two hits in 3.1 innings.  Zapka tossed 2.0 hitless innings to notch his first save of the season.

Smith went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, four RBI and two runs scored and Stallings was 1-for-4 and scored a pair of runs.

The Patriots wrap up their four-game homestand with a midweek, non-conference game against Longwood on Tuesday with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.