Box score (PDF)

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - George Mason junior shortstop Owen Clyne had five hits including a three-run home run and drove in five runs, while sophomore designated hitter Owen Hull hit a pair of two-run home runs to lead the Patriots past St. Bonaventure, 21-2, on Friday afternoon at Handler Park in St. Bonaventure, N.Y.

THE LEADOFF

• Clyne went 5-for-6 with a three-run home run, five RBI and two runs scored.
• Hull finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and four runs scored.
• Graduate student catcher Nick Barenze went 3-for-3 with his first four RBI as a Patriot.
• Freshman left fielder Lucas Alberti was 4-for-5 with one RBI and scored three runs.
• Graduate student starter Sam Lavin worked six innings and improved to 3-0 on the season.
• Eight players drove in at least one run and 10 players scored at least one run for the Patriots.
• The Patriots recorded a season-high 25 hits.  The program record for hits in a game is 28, set against Holy Cross on March 6, 1997.

George Mason (15-7, 3-1 A-10) took the lead against St. Bonaventure (7-13, 0-4 A-10) sophomore starter James Capellupo two batters into the game.  Sophomore Toby Hueber led off with a walk and Hull followed with a two-run homer over the left field fence to put the Patriots in front, 2-0.

The Bonnies scored a run with a two-out RBI-single in the bottom of the second to make it a one-run game at 2-1.

In the top of the fourth, the Patriots sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs on 11 hits.  Raymond and Alberti both singled to start the inning to put runners on the corners and Clyne stepped into the box and belted a three-run home run to make the score 5-1.  Graduate student first baseman Jonny Wall then doubled and junior right fielder Drew Canody bunted his way on with Wall scoring on the play to extend the advantage to 6-1.

With one out, junior center fielder James Quinn-Irons and sophomore third baseman Jake Butler each plated a run with a single to make it 8-1.  With runners on first and second, Raymond walked to load the bases.  With two out, Clyne drove in a pair of runs with a single to center field and Wall ripped a two-run double to pad the lead to 12-1.

In the top of the fifth, Hull smashed his second home run of the day, a two-run shot over the center field fence to make it a 14-1 game.  

Alberti and Clyne both singled to start the top of the sixth and advanced into scoring position.  Canody then drove in a run with a ground out for the 15th run of the game.

In the seventh, Hull was hit by a pitch, Quinn-Irons singled and Butler walked to load the bases.  Barenze came to the plate as a pinch hitter and cleared the bases with a double to right field to make the score 18-1.

Alberti drove in a run in the eighth with a single.  The Patriots added two more in the ninth, one on a single by Barenze and another on a fielding error.

For the Patriots, Lavin (3-0) allowed just one run on four hits in 6.0 innings and earned the win.  Graduate student Gardner Meeks worked 2.0 hitless innings.  Graduate student Ryan Ament gave up one run on three hits in the ninth.

The Bonnies used five pitchers in the game.  Capellupo (1-3) surrendered 12 runs, 11 earned, on 15 hits in 3.2 innings and took the loss.

Clyne went 5-for-6 with a home run, five RBI and two runs scored.  Hull was 3-for-4 with a pair of two-run home runs and four runs scored.  Alberti finished 4-for-5 with one RBI and three runs scored.  Barenze went 3-for-3 with four RBI.

The Patriots and Bonnies play the middle game of the series on Saturday with the first pitch slated for 2 p.m. at Handler Park in St. Bonaventure, N.Y.