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FAIRFAX, Va. – Sophomore outfielder Derek Wood drove in a pair of runs with a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Patriots to a 4-3 walk-off win over Saint Joseph's on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
 
With the victory, the Patriots evened the series against the Hawks and improved to 13-9 in conference play, clinching a berth in the Atlantic 10 Baseball Tournament.

The Patriots have won 12 of their last 16 games, with six of the victories by one run.
 
Mason (29-23, 13-9 A10) fell behind Saint Joseph's (26-22-1, 16-7 A10) when the Hawks plated a run against freshman starter Logan Rumberg in the top of the first.
 
Saint Joseph's junior left fielder Brett Callahan led off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on an error.  After a walk put runners on the corners, sophomore designated hitter Ryan Cesarini lifted a sacrifice fly to center, with Callahan crossing the plate to put the Hawks in front, 1-0.
 
Saint Joseph's added to the lead in the top of the third with a two-out, two-run single by graduate student third baseman Nate Thomas to make it a 3-0 game.
 
That would be the final hit of the day for the Hawks, with Rumberg and the Patriots bullpen combining for six hitless innings. 
 
Sophomore Chad Gartland and graduated student Kyle Smith each tossed two hitless innings, while junior Christian Mracna pitched a clean ninth.
 
The Patriots were limited to one hit through the first five innings by Saint Joseph's freshman starter Ryan DeSanto, who allowed just three baserunners in his outing.
 
In the home half of the sixth, Mason broke through against Hawks sophomore reliever Matt McShane.
 
With one out, junior center fielder Jordan singled up the middle, stole second and went to third on an error.  Sophomore catcher Connor Dykstra followed with a RBI-single to left to put the Patriots on the board.
 
Sophomore first baseman Reece Woody went to second on a throwing error by the shortstop.  Sophomore left fielder Alex Knapp also reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, with Woody racing all the way around to score and pull the Patriots withing a run at 3-2.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, the Hawks made the call to the bullpen for graduate student closer Cole Statzar, who entered the game with five saves on the season.
 
Knapp began the inning with a single through the right side and senior shortstop Brett Stallings bunted his way on to put the Patriots in business.
 
After freshman third baseman Evan Blanchard was called out on runners' interference and a strikeout, the Patriots were down to their final out.
 
Wood fell behind in the count 0-2 before delivering a two-run single to center to vault the Patriots to the 4-3 win.
 
For the Patriots, Rumberg allowed three runs on three hits in a season-high 4.0 innings of work.  Kyle Smith and Gartland each worked 2.0 innings, while Mracna (3-1) pitched the ninth and earned the win.
 
For the Hawks, DeSanto allowed only one hit in 5.0 innings.  McShane gave up two unearned runs on two hits in 3.0 innings.  Statzar (2-3) surrendered two runs on three hits in the ninth and took the loss.
 
Wood went 1-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs, Dykstra was 2-for-3 with one RBI and Stallings finished 1-for-3 and scored the winning run.
 
The Patriots and Hawks wrap up the series in the rubber match on Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for noon at Spuhler Field.