BASEBALL vs. Dayton
2023 ATLANTIC 10 BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
WHEN: Tuesday, May 23 (7 p.m.)
WHERE: The Diamond | Richmond, Va.
RECORDS: #6 George Mason (29-24, 13-10 Atlantic 10); #3 Dayton (24-32, 15-9 Atlantic 10)
ALL-TIME SERIES: Series tied, 10-10
LAST MEETING: The Flyers won two-of-three against the Patriots April 7-9 at Spuhler Field.
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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team enters the 2023 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship as the sixth seed and will face third-seeded Dayton in the first round on Tuesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Diamond in Richmond, Va.
Mason hosted Dayton for a three-game series April 7-9 at Spuhler Field. The Flyers won the first game and the series finale by identical 65 scores, while the Patriots took the middle game, 11-0.
Mason (29-24, 13-10 A10) will complete in the Atlantic 10 Championship for the fourth time in the last seven seasons and for the fifth time in program history.
The Patriots finished the 2023 campaign with a 13-10 mark in conference play. The 13 wins against league foes is tied for second-most in A-10 play since Mason joined the league in 2014. The Patriots posted 16 conference wins in their inaugural season in the A-10 and again in 2018, and Mason won 13 league games in 2017 and 2022.
The Patriots won four of their eight conference series on the season. Mason took two-of-three from Rhode Island (March 31-April 2), St. Bonaventure (April 21-23) and Fordham (May 5-7) and swept three games against George Washington (May 12-14).
The 2023 Atlantic 10 Championships will feature three games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, two games on Friday and the championship game is scheduled for noon on Saturday, May 27 at The Diamond. The winner of the game between the Patriots and Flyers will face either second-seeded Davidson or seventh-seeded Rhode Island on Wednesday.
The winner of the Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.
Mason won 13 of its final 19 games of the regular season, with six of the victories by one run. The Patriots posted a seven-game winning streak at home March 11-19 and a six-game winning streak on the road May 6-16. The Patriots finished 14-11 on the road this season, tied for the most road victories since the 2006 campaign.
Mason is 10-10 all-time against Dayton including one matchup in the conference tournament.
The Patriots faced the Flyers in the opening game of the 2014 Atlantic 10 Tournament on May 21, 2014. Mason scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning to edge Dayton, 4-3, in St. Louis, Mo. In the program's first season in the conference, Mason went on to win four games to claim the 2014 tournament title. The Patriots also recorded wins over Saint Joseph's and two against VCU to advance to the Houston Regional in the NCAA Tournament.
The Patriots rank fourth in Division I baseball in stolen bases (145 in 53 games) and set a new program record this season. Only VMI (189), Mississippi Valley (162) and Louisiana (157) have more.
Mason is tied for 22nd nationally in hit by pitch (94 in 53 games) with sophomore catcher
Connor Dykstra tied for fourth in the NCAA (26 times in 49 games).
Freshman outfielder
James Quinn-Irons has a .380 average (52-for-131) with four home runs, 32 RBI and 37 runs scored in 37 games with 36 starts. He is third on the club in hits (52), home runs (4) and runs scored (37) and fourth in RBI (32) in 37 games with 36 starts.
Senior infielder
South Trimble is hitting .320 (63-for-197) with three home runs, 34 RBI and 51 runs scored in 52 starts. He leads the team in hits (63), runs scored (51), stolen bases (25) and walks (33), is second in doubles (14) and tied for third in RBI (34).
Sophomore Infielder/outfielder
Reece Woody is hitting .301 (46-for-153) with three home runs, 40 RBI and 29 runs scored in 45 games with 44 starts. He paces the Patriots in RBI (40), is fourth in doubles (8), sixth in hits (46) and is seventh in runs scored (29).
Dykstra is batting .298 (48-for-161) with eight home runs, 37 RBI and 36 runs scored in 469starts. He leads the club in home runs (8), doubles (15) and hit by pitch (26), is second in RBI (37) and fourth in runs scored (36).
Junior outfielder
Jordan Smith has a .285 average (57-for-200) with seven home runs, 32 RBI and 44 runs scored in 51 starts in center field. He is second in hits (57), home runs (7) and runs scored (44), second in stolen bases (22), third in doubles (12) and tied for fourth in RBI (32).
Junior outfielder
Derek Wood is hitting .282 (51-for-181) with 26 RBI and 33 runs scored in 53 games with 51 starts. He is tied for first on the team in stolen bases (25), second in walks (20), fourth in hits (51) and sixth in runs scored (33).
The Patriots have a team batting average of .273 through 53 games.
On the mound, graduate student
Ben Shields (6-3, 4.61) leads the team and is tied for 36th in the NCAA in strikeouts (93). He is second on the club in innings pitched (66.1) in 14 starts. Shields 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 March 31.
Sophomore
Chad Gartland (6-2, 3.50) is first on the team in innings pitched (79.2) and is second in strikeouts (72) in 14 appearances with 11 starts. He was selected A-10 Pitcher of the Week after tossing his first career complete game and shutout in the Patriots 11-0 win over Dayton April 8.
Redshirt freshman
Konner Eaton (1-3, 5.61) is third on the club in both innings (35.2) and strikeouts (46).
Junior
Christian Mracna (3-1, 2.39) paces the Patriots in saves (4) and is second on the club in appearances (20). Graduate student
Mason Posey (2-3, 6.63) leads the team with 22 appearances. With his outing against the Colonials on May 13, Posey became Mason's all-time leader in appearances with 75.
The Patriots have a team ERA of 4.85 through 53 games.
2023 ATLANTIC 10 BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING
#1 Saint Joseph's
#2 Davidson
#3 Dayton
#4 Saint Louis
#5 Richmond
#6 George Mason
#7 Rhode Island
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 played a 53-game slate that included 23 contests against Atlantic 10 Conference rivals, 27 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 played 14 games at home and 13 games on the road. To begin the month, the Patriots played a season-high 13 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).
Mason played 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 topped Georgetown, 5-4, in Washington, D.C. (April 4) and fell to Towson, 10-8, in Towson, Md. (April 5).
The Patriots played 11 games at home and seven on the road in April. The Patriots dropped two of three to Dayton (April 7-9) with the Flyers winning the first game, 6-5 and the finale, 6-5. The Patriots won the middle game of the series, 11-0. Mason lost to Longwood, 10-5 at Spuhler Field (April 11) to wrap up a four-game homestand.
Mason traveled down I-95 to face VCU in Richmond, Va. (April 14-16) and dropped two-of-three games. The Rams won the first game, 5-0 and the finale, 11-3, while the Patriots took the middle game of the series, 10-5. 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.
Mason returned to Spuhler Field for a seven-game homestand. Mason won the series against A-10 foe St. Bonaventure (April 21-23), sweeping a doubleheader, 7-6 in 11 innings and 17-5 (April 21) before falling in the final game of the series, 4-3 in 11 innings (April 23).
The Patriots then topped Mount St. Mary's (April 25), 3-1, in a midweek non-conference contest. Mason wrapped up the month splitting a doubleheader against Richmond (April 29). The Patriots won the first game, 4-3, and dropped the second game, 7-0.
The Patriots played eight straight on the road to begin the month of May. Mason traveled to meet Navy in a midweek matchup (May 3) and the Patriots posted a 4-1 win. Mason took won its series against Fordham in Bronx, N.Y. (May 5-7). The Patriots dropped the first game, 2-1, then downed the Rams 10-5 and 11-10.
The Patriots swept a three-game series in the Revolutionary Rivalry against the Colonials in Washington, D.C. (May 12-14) by final scores of 8-7, 13-6 and 9-5. Mason downed Maryland-Eastern Shore, 4-3, in the final non-conference game of the season in Salisbury, Md. (May 16).
The Patriots concluded the regular against Saint Joseph's at Spuhler Field (May 19-21). The Hawks won the first game, 9-4 and the finale, 13-9. The Patriots took the middle game, 4-3 with a walk-off in the ninth.
The Patriots played 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 played eight league series, four at home and four on the road.
Home series against A-10 foes included 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 visited 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 DAYTON
Dayton has an overall record of 24-32, including a mark of 15-9 in Atlantic 10 play. The Flyers went 14-9 at home and 9-23 on the road.
Dayton finished tied with Saint Louis for the third-best record in the league and won the tiebreaker with the Billikens to earn the third seed.
The Flyers won six of their last seven games to end the season, including two-of-three at Massachusetts this past weekend.
Senior infielder Ben Jones has a .365 average (66-for-181) with nine home runs, 33 RBI and 46 runs scored in 48 games with 47 starts. Senior first baseman Marcos Pujols is hitting .322 (59-for-183) with 14 home runs, 44 RBI and 39 runs scored in 50 starts.
Sophomore catcher Matt Maloney is batting .298 (39-for-131) with three home runs, 16 RBI and 30 runs scored in 46 games with 36 starts. Senior infielder Keagan Calero has. .297 average (49-for-165) with four home runs, 29 RBI and 31 runs scored in 52 games with 45 starts.
Dayton has a team batting average of .262 over 56 games.
On the mound, senior Mark Manfredi (3-4, 5.32) leads the team in innings pitched (71.0) and strikeouts (90). Junior Eli Majick (4-4, 5.70) is second in both innings (60.0) and strikeouts (48).
Graduate student Andrew Zapka (2-0, 3.29) leads the club in saves (4) and was third in appearances (22).
The Flyers have a team ERA of 6.54 through 56 games.
STRIKE ZONE
There have been five different Atlantic 10 Tournament champions in the last seven years. VCU claimed the title last season to become the first team to win back-to-back titles in 14 years.
Before the 2022 season, the last back-to-back conference tournament champion was Charlotte in 2007 and 2008.
Only six teams have won consecutive Atlantic 10 championships in the 42-year history of the tournament. VCU (2021/2022), Charlotte (2007/2008), Virginia Tech (1999/2000), UMass (1995/1996), Rutgers (1990/1991) and Temple (1983/1984).
The A-10 Championship has been held at 18 different host locations since 1979. Before last season, the prior two champions won the title on their home field. Fordham claimed the crown in 2019 at Jack Coffey Field, in Bronx, N.Y. and VCU took the title in 2021 at The Diamond in Richmond, Va.
Rutgers was the first team to win the championship on its own field in 1986, when the tournament was held in Piscataway, N.J. The Scarlet Knights have won the most A-10 Tournament championships, claiming the title six times in program history before departing the league.
