Box score (PDF)
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots concluded their five-game homestand with a 16-3 victory over VMI on Tuesday at Spuhler Field.
 
Mason improved to 4-1 in midweek games this season.
 
Junior first baseman Connor Dykstra and junior left fielder Reece Woody each drove in three runs, while graduate student second baseman South Trimble reached base six times and scored five runs.

Freshman outfielder Ryan Muskopf collected his first collegiate hit and RBI with a pinch-hit single in the eighth.  Freshman pitcher Shaun Okeeffe earned his first NCAA victory.
 
Mason (12-12) took the lead for good in the bottom of the first against VMI junior starter Caden Plummer.
 
With one out, Trimble was hit by a pitch and stole second.  Senior center fielder Jordan Smith was hit by a pitch and the Patriots executed a double steal to put a pair of runners into scoring position.
 
After Woody drew a walk, Trimble and Smith raced home on two wild pitches to the Patriots in front, 2-0.  Dykstra followed with a RBI-single to right field to make it 3-0.
 
The Keydets got a pair of runs back in the top of the second against Mason freshman starter Ty Uchman.
 
With two outs, senior right fielder Cole Jenkins was hit by a pitch and sophomore catcher Owen Prince walked.  After both players moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, sophomore third baseman Kazuya Jordan drove in a pair of runs with a single to left field to make it a one-run game at 3-2.
 
In the bottom of the second the Patriots sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs on four hits and two walks to build an 8-2 lead.
 
Freshman catcher J.P. Williams led off with a walk, junior shortstop Carsen Pracht singled and after a sacrifice bunt, Trimble walked to load the bases.  Smith was hit by a pitch to force in a run, Woody singled in a run, Dykstra plated a pair of runs with a single and graduate student designated hitter Socrates Bardatsos knocked in the fifth run of the inning with a fielder's choice groundout.
 
In the bottom of the third, Pracht led off with a double to right field and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Senior right fielder Derek Wood followed with a RBI-single through the right side to make the score 9-2.
 
Trimble was hit by a pitch, raced to second on a failed pickoff attempt and coasted home on a double by Smith into the gap in left-center to extend the advantage to 10-2.
 
VMI scored its final run of the game in the top of the fourth.  Freshman left fielder Cole Raile led off with a triple and scored on a double by Jenkins.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Patriots batted around for the second time in the game and scored three runs on three hits to increase the lead to 13-3. 
 
Bardatsos led off with a single and with one out, Williams walked.  Pracht then singled in a run with his third hit of the afternoon.  Wood kept the line moving with a single through the left side to load the bases and after a pitching change, Trimble drove in a run with a walk and Smith reached on a fielder's choice, with Pracht rumbling home from third on the play.
 
The Mason bullpen combined for six innings of one-hit ball.  Okeeffe (2.0), sophomore Connor Knox (2.0), freshman Cole Egan (1.0) and freshman Toby Hueber (1.0).
 
The Patriots tacked on two runs in the bottom of the sixth and another in the home half of the eighth for the 16-3 final score.
 
For the Patriots, Uchman allowed two runs on one hit in 2.0 innings in his second start of the season.  Okeeffe (1-0) tossed 2.0 innings of no-hit ball to earn his first collegiate win.
 
The Keydets used seven pitchers in the game.  Plummer (1-1) allowed three runs on one hits and retired one batter in his outing.
 
Woody went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.  Dykstra was 2-for-4 with three RBI.  Pracht finished 3-for-5 with one RBI and three runs scored.  Trimble reached base six times with four walks and two hit by pitch, scored five runs and had one RBI.
 
The Patriots begin Atlantic 10 Conference play on the road at Richmond on Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. in Richmond, Va.