Box core (PDF)

BRONX, N.Y. – The George Mason baseball team evened its series with Fordham with a 10-5 victory on Saturday afternoon at Houlihan Park in Bronx, N.Y.

Mason (23-22, 8-8 A10) took the lead in the first inning against Fordham (17-30, 5-12 A10) graduate student starter Austin Sachen and never trailed in the game.

Senior designated hitter South Trimble led off with a single and stole second.  Junior right fielder Derek Wood drew a walk and freshman left fielder James Quinn-Irons legged out an infield single to load the bases.

Sophomore first baseman Reece Woody was hit by a pitch to force in a run, junior third baseman Mark Trotta drove in a run with a fielder's choice groundout and Quinn-Irons scored on a double steal to put the Patriots in front, 3-0.

The Rams responded in the bottom of the first with back-to-back solo home runs against Mason sophomore starter Chad Gartland.  With two outs, Rams graduate student first baseman Peter DeMaria and freshman catcher Tommy McAndrews each homered to left field.

In the top of the third, Wood singled with one out and then stole second.  After Quinn-Irons walked, sophomore catcher Connor Dykstra ripped a two-run double to right field to increase the lead to 5-2.

After two scoreless innings, the Patriots sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs on three hits and four walks against Rams junior reliever Nate Scott to take control of the game.

Junior center fielder Jordan Smith led off with a single and senior second baseman Brett Stallings walked.  Sophomore shortstop Carsen Pracht then singled to third and Smith scored on a throwing error to make the score 6-2

Trimble walked to load the bases and Wood was issued a free pass to force in a run to pad the lead to 7-2.

After a pitching change, Quinn-Irons drove in a pair of runs with a single through the left side, with Trimble and Pracht crossing the plate to make it 9-2.  With runners on the corners, Dykstra was caught stealing at second base, but Quinn-Irons rumbled home from third for the Patriots 10th run of the day.

In the bottom of the sixth, Fordham senior designated hitter Will Findlay hit a two-run home run to make the score 10-4.

Mason freshman Owen Stewart took over on the mound to start the seventh inning and closed out the game to notch his first NCAA save.

The Rams final run of the game came on a leadoff home run by freshman third baseman Daniel Bucciero in the bottom of the ninth for the 10-5 final score.

For the Patriots, Gartland (5-2) allowed four runs on five hit in 6.0 innings and earned the win.  Stewart gave up one run on three hits in 3.0 innings and notched his first collegiate save.

For the Rams, Sachen (0-4) allowed five runs on six hits in 3.2 innings and took the loss.  Scott surrendered five runs on five hits in 1.1 innings.  Graduate student Dominic Cunha pitched 4.0 scoreless innings.

Quinn-Irons went 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.  Wood went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, one RBI and two runs scored.  Trimble finished 1-for-3 with two walks and scored two runs.

The Patriots and Rams play the final game of the series on Sunday with the first pitch slated for noon at Houlihan Park in Bronx, N.Y.