BASEBALL vs. Fairfield
WHEN: Friday, March 1 (2 p.m.), Saturday, March 2 (1 p.m.), Sunday, March 3 (12 p.m.)
WHERE: Spuhler Field | Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: George Mason (2-6, 0-0 A-10); Fairfield (0-6, 0-0 MAAC)
ALL-TIME SERIES: George Mason leads, 15-7
LAST MEETING: The Patriots won two-of-three against the Stags March 3-4, 2018 at Spuhler Field.
GAME NOTES: Click here
WATCH ($): ESPN+
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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team begins a season-high eight-game homestand with a three-game weekend series against Fairfield beginning Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. at Spuhler Field.
George Mason senior outfielder
Jordan Smith was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week. He went 8-for-15 (.533/.600/1.067) with a home run, two triples, a double, four RBI, seven runs scored and three walks in five games for the Patriots last week.
Smith hit for the cycle in Mason's 11-9 win over Purdue on Saturday, Feb. 24 at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, N.C. in game one of a doubleheader. He went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in the game. Smith hit a solo home run in the first inning, singled in the second inning, tripled in the sixth and doubled in the seventh against the Boilermakers in the game.
Last time out, the Patriots (2-6) fell to Purdue, 11-1, on Sunday afternoon in the final game of a four-game set at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, N.C.
In the last meeting against Fairfield, the Patriots took two-of-three games from the Stags March 3-4, 2018 at Spuhler Field. Mason dropped the first game (13-5) then swept a doubleheader (7-5, 7-1).
Mason has a record of 15-7 all-time against Fairfield. Each of the last 12 games between the two teams dating back to the 2005 season have been played at Spuhler Field.
Smith is hitting .417 (10-for-24) with one home run, two triples, two doubles, six RBI and seven runs scored in eight starts in center field. Graduate student utility player
Ben Jones is batting .391 (9-for-23) with one double, two RBI and five runs scored in eight games with seven starts.
Sophomore outfielder
James Quinn-Irons has a .360 average (9-for-25) with one home run, two doubles, eight RBI and six runs scored in eight games with seven starts. Graduate student infielder
South Trimble is hitting .313 (10-for-32) with one home run, one triple, five RBI and eight runs scored in eight starts.
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday
Mason: RHP
Nick Martins (0-2)
Fairfield: RHP Colin McVeigh (0-0)
Saturday
Mason: LHP
Konner Eaton (0-1)
Fairfield: LHP Bowen Baker (0-2)
Sunday
Mason: LHP
Ryan Peterson (0-0)
Fairfield: RHP Ben Alekson (0-1)
SCOUTING FAIRFIELD
Last season, Fairfield went 37-18 including a mark of 16-5 against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opponents. The Stags went 14-4 at home, 19-11 on the road and 4-3 at neutral sites.
The Stags won the MAAC regular-season title for the third straight year and set a new program record with 34 wins overall in the regular season. Fairfield became the first program in MAAC history to win three straight conference regular season titles.
Fairfield advanced the MAAC Championship Series for the third time in four years last season, falling to Rider in the final game of the tournament.
To begin the 2024 campaign, Fairfield has been swept in each of its first two series. The Stags dropped three games at UNC Greensboro Feb. 16-18 in Greensboro, N.C. (10-9, 8-7, 12-7). Fairfield lost three games at James Madison Feb. 23-25 in Harrisonburg, Va. (10-9, 4-2, 16-4).
Fairfield was predicted to finish first in the MAAC in the preseason coaches' poll with 107 points and a league-high five first-place votes, with Quinnipiac second (96 points) and Canisius third (91 points).
Junior infielder Dean Ferrara is batting .500 (13-for-26) with one triple, one double, four RBI and four runs scored in six starts.
Graduate student catcher Ethan Hibbard is hitting .429 (9-for-21) with two home runs, four doubles, eight RBI and six runs scored in six starts.
Sophomore infielder Luke Nomura has a .391 average (9-for-23) with one home run, two doubles, six RBI and three runs scored in six starts.
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS
Mason has 22 returners and added 18 newcomers on the roster heading into the season under
Shawn Camp, who enters his second year as the head coach of the Patriots.
The Mason senior class includes pitchers
Nick Martins,
Kyle Menaker and
Ryan Peterson, along with outfielders
Jordan Smith and
Derek Wood. Graduate student utility player
South Trimble also returns for the Patriots.
The junior class includes pitchers
Chad Gartland and
Britt Yount, infielder
Carsen Pracht, outfielders
Brandon Parks and
Reece Woody and catcher
Connor Dykstra.
Sophomore returning for their second year with the Green and Gold are pitchers
Konner Eaton,
Ryan Edmonds,
Tyler Herkey,
Connor Knox,
Logan Rumberg and
Owen Stewart, infielder
Evan Blanchard, outfielder
James Quinn-Irons and catcher
Bennett Shealor.
The Patriots added 18 new players, with 13 freshman, one junior and four graduate students entering their first year at George Mason.
New pitchers joining the Patriots are freshmen
Cole Egan (LHP),
Brant Ertel (RHP),
Dylan McCarthy (RHP),
Shaun Okeeffe (LHP) and
Ty Uchman (LHP). Graduate students
Luke Goodyear (LHP) and
Avery Mabe (RHP) along with junior
Jake Roberti join the Mason bullpen.
New position players include two graduate students, catcher
Socrates Bardatsos and utility player
Ben Jones. Eight freshmen position players embark on their rookie year with infielders
Jake Butler,
Christian Carver,
Cole Feldman,
Toby Hueber and
Owen Hull, outfielders
Jake Kozlowski and
Ryan Muskopf and catcher
J.P. Williams.
GEORGE MASON 2024 SCHEDULE
The Patriots are schedule to play a 56-game slate that includes 24 contests against Atlantic 10 Conference rivals, 32 games at Spuhler Field and three games against opponents that made a NCAA Regional appearance last season.
The Patriots began the season with three games at the Baseball at the Beach tournament in Conway, S.C.
Mason fell to No. 18 Coastal Carolina, 26-0 (Feb. 16), lost to No. 12 Duke, 23-5 (Feb. 17) and dropped the final game at Baseball at the Beach to Indiana, 9-3 (Feb. 18).
All four teams that competed at Baseball at the Beach played in a NCAA Regional last season, with both Duke and Coastal Carolina in the 2023 NCAA Conway Regional. The Blue Devils defeated the Chanticleers to advance to the Super Regional.
The Patriots won their home opener over Coppin State, 21-2 (Feb. 20).
Mason dropped three-of-four against Purdue at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, N.C. The Boilermakers won the opener, 7-4 (Feb. 23), the two teams split a doubleheader with the Patriots taking game one, 11-9 and Purdue the nightcap, 12-5 (Feb. 24). The Boilermakers won the finale, 11-1, in seven innings (Feb. 25).
In March, Mason is scheduled to play 20 games with 16 at home and four on the road.
Mason will open a season-high eight-game homestand hosting Fairfield for three games (March 1-3) and Monmouth for a three-game set (March 8-10).
Mason will then host Bucknell (March 12) and Maryland Eastern Shore (March 13) for midweek games.
The Green and Gold are then on the road for a three-game series against North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C.
The Patriots visit Longwood for a midweek game in Farmville, Va. (March 19) before returning to Spuhler Field to host Villanova for three games (March 22-24) and VMI in a midweek game (March 26).
The Patriots wrap up the month when they travel down I-95 to take on Richmond in the first Atlantic 10 series of the season in Richmond, Va. (March 29-31).
In April, the Patriots are scheduled to play 16 games, with 10 at home and six on the road.
Mason is back home to take on Longwood in a midweek matinee (April 3) and then the Patriots will play their first conference home series against rival George Washington (April 5-7).
Mason plays a season-high five straight on the road in mid-April beginning with a single game at VMI in Lexington, Va. (April 10). The Patriots then face the Flyers for three games in Dayton, Ohio (April 12-14) and wrap up the stretch under the lights against Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. (April 17).
The Cavaliers advanced to the 2023 College World Series last season after winning all three games in the Charlottesville Regional and taking two of three games against Duke in the Super Regional.
In 2023, the Patriots went 15-11 at home, 14-11 on the road and 7-5 in games played at a neutral site.
Mason is back at home in conference play against Massachusetts (April 19-21) before traveling for a Tuesday meeting against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. (April 23).
The Patriots host VCU (April 26-28) to wrap up the month of April.
In May, the Patriots are scheduled to play 12 games, with four at home and eight on the road.
The month begins with a midweek matchup against Georgetown in Tysons, Va. (May 1). The Patriots then travel to the Gateway City for a three-game conference series against the Billikens in St. Louis, Mo. (May 3-5).
Mason then plays back-to-back midweek games. The Patriots are home to meet Maryland Eastern Shore (May 7) and back on the road to tangle with Towson (May 8).
The Patriots play their final regular season road series at Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia, Pa. (May 11-13) and conclude the regular season with a three-game series at Spuhler Field against Davidson (May 16-18).
The Patriots will play three home-and-home series during the 2024 season, taking on Towson, Longwood and VMI for single games both at home and on the road.
Mason plays eight league series, four at home and four on the road.
Home series against A-10 foes include three-game weekend sets against George Washington (April 5-7), Massachusetts (April 19-21), VCU (April 26-28) and Davidson (May 16-18).
The Patriots will visit Richmond (March 29-31), Dayton (April 12-14), Saint Louis (May 3-5) and Saint Joseph's (May 10-12).
The 2024 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship will be held May 21-25 at Capital One Park in Tysons, Va.
STRIKE ZONE
Mason has a record of 15-7 all-time against Fairfield. Each of the last 12 games between the two teams dating back to the 2005 season have been played at Spuhler Field.
