Box score (PDF)
 
FAIRFAX, VA. – George Mason and VCU were tied going into the ninth inning but the Patriots fell to the Rams, 6-4, in the series opener on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
 
Graduate student second baseman South Trimble went 4-for-4, reached base all five of his plate appearances and scored three runs. 
 
Mason (17-22, 5-8 A10) took the lead against VCU (26-15, 8-4 A10) sophomore starter Zachary Peters in the bottom of the first.
 
Trimble led off with a single and senior center fielder Jordan Smith was hit by a pitch.  Graduate student left fielder Ben Jones then moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
 
With two outs, junior first baseman Reece Woody singled through the left side with Trimble crossing the plate to put the Patriots in front, 1-0.
 
The Rams tied the score in the top of the second against Mason redshirt sophomore starter Konner Eaton when graduate student designated hitter Eli Weisner led off with a home run to left field.
 
In the top of the third, the first two batters for the Rams reached base with a single and a throwing error to put a pair of runners in scoring position.  Freshman first baseman Chris McHugh delivered with a two-RBI single up the middle to make the score 3-1.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Trimble reached on an error and Smith again was hit by a pitch.  The Patriots then executed a double steal.  Jones plated Trimble from third with a RBI-groundout off Rams sophomore reliever Brian Curley to make it a one-run game at 3-2.
 
The Patriots took the lead in the home half of the fifth.
 
Senior right fielder Derek Wood and Trimble each singled to put runners on the corners.  Smith knocked in Wood from third with a groundout to tie the score.  Jones followed with a double to left field, with Trimble racing around to put the Patriots in front, 4-3.
 
In the top of the seventh, senior shortstop William Bean led off with a walk and with one out, McHugh singled.  Senior third baseman Brandon Eike drove in a run with a single off Mason sophomore reliever Owen Stewart to tie the game.
 
Mason threatened in the bottom of the eighth.  Junior shortstop Carsen Pracht singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Trimble then singled to put runners at first and third. 
 
VCU made a pitching change and graduate student reliever Owen Tappy got out of the jam with a strikeout and a fly out.
 
The Rams scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth on two RBI-singles for the 6-4 final score.
 
For the Patriots, Eaton allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits in 6.1 innings.  He struck out eight and walked two.  Stewart (1-2) gave up two runs on three hits in 2.0 innings and took the loss.  Senior Nick Martins retired two batters in his outing.
 
For the Rams, Peters allowed two runs on two hits in 2.0 innings.  Curley gave up two runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings.  Tappy (6-1) retired the final five batters of the game to earn the win.
 
Woody went 2-for-5 with one RBI, Jones was 1-for-4 with two RBI and Smith was hit by a pitch three times and drove in a run.
 
The Patriots and Rams play the middle game of the series on Saturday afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. at Spuhler Field.