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CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | PHOTO GALLERY

RICHMOND, Va. – Junior Kyle Menaker pitched a gem in his first start in a Mason uniform to lead the sixth-seeded Patriots past fourth-seeded Saint Louis, 4-1, in the Championship Final at the 2023 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship on Saturday at The Diamond in Richmond, Va.

Menaker allowed just one run on four hits over seven innings of work.  He retired 12 batters in a row from the from the fourth through the seventh before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Mason (33-25, 13-10 A10) fell behind Saint Louis (33-22, 15-9 A10) in the top of the second inning.  Senior first baseman Cam Redding led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  With two outs, senior third baseman Cameron Swanger drove in a run with a single to center to put the Billikens in front, 1-0.

The Patriots sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth and scored four runs on three hits against Saint Louis junior starter Dawson Smith and sophomore Colby Downard to take the lead.

Senior designated hitter South Trimble walked to give the Patriots their first baserunner of the game.  After Trimble stole second, junior outfielder Derek Wood dropped down a bunt single to put runners on the corners.  Junior center fielder Jordan Smith then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game, 1-1.

Sophomore catcher Connor Dykstra was hit by a pitch to keep the rally going.  Sophomore first baseman Reece Woody ripped a RBI-single to left, with Wood scoring to give the Patriots a 2-1 lead.

After senior second baseman Brett Stallings was hit by a pitch, sophomore left fielder Alex Knapp bounced a two-run single through the left side to make it 4-1.

Mason graduate student Ben Shields took over on the mound for the Patriots in the eighth and retired six of the seven batters he faced in the outing.

For the Patriots, Menaker (1-1) allowed one run on four hits in 7.0 innings and earned the win.  Shields pitched the final two innings to record the save.

For the Billikens, Smith (1-3) allowed two runs on one hit 3.1 innings and took the loss.  Downard surrendered two runs on two hits and didn't retire a batter in his outing.  Sophomore Evan Gray pitched 4.1 scoreless innings.  

The No. 6 Patriots and No. 4 Saint Louis will play for the Atlantic 10 Championship in the second game of the afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 3:10 p.m. at The Diamond in Richmond, Va.