Box Score (PDF)

ARLINGTON, Va. – The George Mason baseball team downed George Washington, 13-6, on Saturday afternoon to take the first two games at Barcroft Park in Arlington, Va.

Mason has won the first two games against the Colonials to clinch the series win.  The Patriots have won four straight games and nine of their last 12.

Junior right fielder Derek Wood drove in three runs and scored three runs, while sophomore first baseman Reece Woody also finished with three RBI.

Patriots graduate student Mason Posey made his 75th career appearance, most in program history.

Mason (26-22, 11-8 A10) took the lead against George Washington (18-33, 8-11 A10) sophomore starter Teddy Brennan in the top of the first.

Senior designated hitter South Trimble led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  After Wood drew a walk, freshman left fielder James Quinn-Irons grounded into a double play, with Trimble racing home to put the Patriots in front, 1-0.

In the top of the second, graduate student third baseman Mark Trotta singled, junior center fielder Jordan Smith walked and senior second baseman Brett Stallings bunted his way on to load the bases.  With one out, Trimble drove in a run with a single to right to make it 2-0.  Wood followed with a single through the right side of the infield to knock in two more runs to double the lead to 4-0.

The Colonials got on the board in the home half of the second when graduate student catcher Anthony Frechette hit a leadoff home run off Mason sophomore starter Chad Gartland.

In the bottom of the third, the Colonials sent eight batters to the plate and scored three runs on four hits to tie the score, 4-4.  Frechette had the big hit in the inning with a two-run double down the left field line.

The Patriots responded in the top of the fourth, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring four runs.

Stallings led off with a double to right-center and sophomore shortstop Carsen Pracht dropped down a bunt to put runners on the corners.  Trimble followed with a RBI-single and Wood drove in another run with a bunt single to make the score 6-4.

Colonials junior reliever Benny Wilson took over on the mound.  After a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Alex Knapp moved both Wood and Trimble into scoring position, sophomore catcher Connor Dykstra plated a run with a ground out to increase the advantage to 7-4.  Woody stepped to the plate and delivered with a single back up the middle, with Wood rumbling home to make it 8-4.

The Patriots tacked on a run in the top of the sixth.  With one out, Wood and Knapp were both hit by a pitch to put traffic on the base paths.  With two outs, Woody drove in a run for the second straight at-bat with a single to pad the lead to 9-4.

George Washington got a run back after the stretch in the bottom of the seventh.  Junior right fielder Eddie Micheletti led off with a double and the Patriots made a pitching change, with Posey taking over on the mound.  After a walk, Colonials graduate student first baseman Michael Kohn plated a run with a single through the right side to cut the lead to 9-5.

In the top of the eighth, the Patriots added a run against Colonials graduate student Chris Knight.  Knapp was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch.  With one out, Woody was also hit by a pitch to put a pair of runners aboard.  After a fielder's choice ground out, Smith walked to load the bases and Stallings was issued a free pass to force in the Patriots 10th run of the game.

The Patriots dented the scoreboard in the top of the ninth against Colonials freshman Reese Crochete.

Trimble led off with a walk, Wood reached on a fielder's choice and Knapp reached on an error to load the bases.  The next three Mason batters each drove in a run.  Dykstra with a ground out to third, Woody with a sacrifice fly to left and freshman third baseman Evan Blanchard with a single to expand the lead to 13-5.

The Colonials plated the final run of the game in the bottom of the ninth on a two-out double by junior shortstop Bryan Belo.

For the Patriots, Gartland (6-2) allowed five runs on 11 hits in 6.0 innings to earn the win.  Posey faced two batters in the seventh.  Stewart gave up one run on three hits in 3.0 innings to pick up his second save.

For the Colonials, Brennan (2-4) allowed eight runs on nine hits in 3.0 innings and took the loss.  Wilson gave up one run on two hits in 2.2 innings.  Knight allowed one run on one hit in 2.1 innings.  Crochet surrendered three runs on one hit in the ninth.

Wood went 2-for-4 with a walk, hit by pitch, three RBI and three runs scored.  Trimble was 3-for-5 with a walk, two RBI and three runs scored.  Woody finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored.

The Patriots and Colonials wrap up the series on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for noon at Barcroft Park in Arlington, Va.