BASEBALL vs. Villanova
WHEN: Friday, March 22 Doubleheader (Game 1- 12 p.m.), Sunday, March 24 (1 p.m.)
WHERE: Spuhler Field | Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: George Mason (9-11, 0-0 A-10); Villanova (6-12, 0-0 Big East)
ALL-TIME SERIES: Mason leads Villanova, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: The Patriots defeated the Wildcats, 12-5, on Feb. 19, 2019 in Kissimmee, Fla.
WATCH ($): ESPN+
LIVE STATS: Click here
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team hosts Villanova for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, with the first pitch for game one scheduled for noon at Spuhler Field.
Last time out, the Patriots (9-11) fell to Longwood, 9-4, on Tuesday. Junior first baseman
Reece Woody went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored and graduate student second baseman
South Trimble was 2-for-5 with one RBI. Graduate student catcher
Socrates Bardatsos and junior shortstop
Carsen Pracht each drove in a run.
In the last meeting against Villanova, the Patriots downed the Wildcats, 12-5, on Feb. 19, 2019 at the Sunshine State Classic in Kissimmee, Fla.
Mason scored 12 runs on 10 hits and every player in the lineup for the Patriots reached base at least once and every player either drove in a run or scored a run.
In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, Mason defeated Villanova, 6-1, on March 9, 2018 at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla.
Senior outfielder
Jordan Smith is hitting .364 (24-for-66) in 20 starts in center field. He leads the club in average (.364), triples (3) and runs scored (20) and is tied for first in hits (24). He is second in home runs (4) and RBI (17) and tied for second in doubles (3).
Woody is batting .305 (18-for-59) in 20 games with 18 starts. He is second in average, tied for second in hits (18), third in home runs (3) and fourth in RBI (10).
Trimble has a .304 average (24-for-79) in 20 starts. He leads the team in stolen bases (16) and is tied for first in hits (24). He is second in runs scored (18) and third in RBI (14).
Sophomore outfielder
James Quinn-Irons is hitting .277 (18-for-65) in 19 games with 18 starts. He leads the team in home runs (8) and RBI (21). He is tied for second in doubles (3) and third in runs scored (16).
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday (Game 1)
Mason: RHP
Nick Martins (1-3)
Villanova: RHP Rian Schwebe (1-1)
Friday (Game 2)
Mason: LHP
Konner Eaton (1-2)
Villanova: RHP Devin Rivera (0-3)
Sunday
Mason: LHP
Ryan Peterson (0-0)
Villanova: TBD
SCOUTING VILLANOVA
Villanova has a 6-12 record through the first 18 games of the season. The Wildcats are 0-1 at home and 6-11 on the road.
The Wildcats played their first 17 games on the road.
Villanova was swept at the University of the Incarnate Word (Feb. 16-18) in San Antonio, Texas to begin the season by final scores of 12-7, 7-6 and 9-6.
Davidson won two-of-three against Villanova (Feb. 23-25) in Davidson, N.C. Davidson took the first two games, 11-8 and 5-3, while Villanova won the finale, 13-2.
The Wildcats swept three games at Pepperdine (March 8-10) by final scores of 7-2, 6-0 and 7-1. Against East Tennessee State (March 15-17), Villanova dropped the first two games, 12-11 and 11-5, and won the finale, 15-8.
Last time out, the Wildcats fell to Saint Peter's, 5-2, on Wednesday at Villanova Ballpark in Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
Senior infielder/outfielder Jack O'Reilly is hitting .351 (27-for-77) in 18 starts. He leads the team in average (.351), hits (27), doubles (10), home runs (5), RBI (20) and runs scored (20). Graduate student catcher Jason Neff is batting .268 (19-for-71) in 18 games with 17 starts. He is second on the club in average (.268), hits (19), doubles (5) and RBI (16).
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.
Sophomores 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 opened a season-high eight-game homestand with a three-game sweep over Fairfield (March 1-3). The Patriots won the first game, 3-0, the middle game, 8-0 and then notched a 9-8 walk-off victory in the series finale.
Mason took two-of-three from Monmouth (March 8-10). The Patriots swept a doubleheader March 8 with two walk-off wins, 6-5 in 10 innings in game one and 2-1 in the nightcap. The Hawks won the finale, 12-7.
The Patriots defeated Bucknell (March 12) with a 13-12 walk-off win and then downed Maryland Eastern Shore (March 13) 15-5 in seven innings to finish the homestand 7-1.
Mason was swept on the road by North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. (March 15-17) by final scores of 14-5, 6-5 and 10-9.
The Patriots dropped their midweek matchup to Longwood (March 19), 9-4.
Mason continues its homestand with three games against Villanova (March 22-24) and a Tuesday meeting with VMI (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
The Patriots have won both games they have played against the Wildcats, with both contests in Kissimmee, Fla.
Mason downed Villanova, 12-5, on Feb. 19, 2019 at the Sunshine State Classic.
In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, Mason defeated Villanova, 6-1, on March 9, 2018 at Osceola County Stadium.
