Box score (PDF)

AMHERST, Mass. – Every player in the starting lineup scored at least one run in a 16-7 victory over Massachusetts on Friday in the first game of the series at Earl Lorden Field in Amherst, Mass.

THE LEADOFF

• Junior center fielder James Quinn-Irons hit a two-run home run and reached base five times.
• Sophomore right fielder Owen Hull had two hits, walked three times and scored three runs.
• Sophomore second baseman Jake Butler knocked in three runs.
• Freshman left fielder Lucas Alberti had two hits, two walks, one RBI and scored two runs.
• Graduate student Gardner Meeks tossed a season-high 5.1 innings.
• The Patriots scored at least 10 runs in a game for the 15th time this season.
• Every player in the starting lineup scored at least one run and six players drove in at least one run.
• The Patriots walked 12 times with six of those baserunners scoring a run.

George Mason (25-13, 11-5 A-10) took the lead against Massachusetts (10-21-1, 4-12 A-10) sophomore starter Robbie O'Connor in the first inning.  With one out, Hull walked and Quinn-Irons stepped to the plate and belted his 10th home run of the season, a two-run blast to straightaway center to put the Patriots in front, 2-0.

Junior Connor Knox made his first start of the season and pitched the first inning for the Patriots.

In the bottom of the third, UMass sent 12 batters to the plate and scored six runs on five hits, two walks and two hit batters against George Mason graduate student Sam Lavin and Meeks to take a 6-2 lead.

The Patriots sent eight batters to the plate in the top of the fourth and scored five runs on two hits, two hit batters and a walk go in front.

Alberti led off with a walk, junior third baseman Evan Blanchard was hit by a pitch and graduate student first baseman Jonny Wall reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases.  Junior designated hitter Drew Canody ripped a two-run single through the left side to make it a 6-4 game. 

Junior shortstop Owen Clyne lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to plate a run and Hull knocked in another with a single to tie the game, 6-6.  After Quinn-Irons was hit by a pitch, Butler drove in a run with a groundout to vault the Patriots into the lead, 7-6.

In the top of the fifth, freshman catcher Andrew Raymond led off with a single, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a throwing error to increase the advantage to 8-6.

George Mason added three runs in the top of the eighth against UMass sophomore reliever Jack Levine.  Quinn-Irons was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to start the inning and Butler drew a walk.  Both players moved up a base on a passed ball and Quinn-Irons raced home from third on a wild pitch to make it 9-6.

Raymond walked to put runners on the corners and Alberti knocked in a run with a bunt single to pad the lead to 10-6.  After a sacrifice bunt moved a pair of runners into scoring position, Raymond rumbled across the plate on the second passed ball of the inning to extend the lead to 11-6.

The Minutemen pushed a run across the plate in the home half of the eighth with a two out RBI-single to pull within four runs, 11-7.

In the top of the ninth, the Patriots sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs on three hits four walks to add to their total.  Clyne knocked in a run with a single, Quinn-Irons forced in another with a bases loaded walk, Butler delivered a two-run single and Alberti scored on a passed ball for the 16-7 final score.

For the Patriots, Knox pitched the first inning with one strikeout and one walk.  Lavin allowed six runs on four hits in 1.2 innings.  Meeks (2-0) gave up just one run on six hits in 5.1 innings and earned the win.  Sophomore Cole Egan pitched the ninth.

For the Minutemen, O'Connor surrendered eight runs, seven earned, on six hits in 5.0 innings and took the loss.  Levine allowed eight runs, four earned, on three hits in 3.2 innings.

Hull went 2-for-3 with a double, three walks, three runs scored and one RBI.  Quinn-Irons was 1-for-2 with a two-run home run, two walks, two hit by pitch, drove in three runs and scored twice.  Raymond finished 2-for-4 with two walks, two runs scored and one RBI.  Alberti went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and one RBI.

The Patriots and Minutemen play the middle game of the series on Saturday afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Earl Lorden Field in Amherst, Mass.