Box score (PDF)

AMHERST, Mass. – The George Mason baseball team allowed a run in the ninth inning and fell to Massachusetts, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field in Amherst, Mass.

George Mason (25-14, 11-6 A-10) graduate student starter Connor O'Hara and Massachusetts (11-21-1, 5-12 A-10) sophomore starter Callen Powers kept the game scoreless through the first four innings.

The Minutemen threatened in the bottom of the fourth.  After two singles to start the inning put runners on the corners, sophomore catcher Ryan Kolben dropped down a squeeze bunt looking to manufacture a run.  O'Hara raced off the mound and barehanded the ball, and falling toward the third base line threw out the runner at the plate with Patriots' sophomore catcher Andrew Raymond applying the tag.

The Minutemen loaded the bases with their third base hit of the inning but O'Hara ended the inning with a groundout to get out of the jam.

In the bottom of the fifth, UMass began the inning with back-to-back singles.  After a fielder's choice groundout, a two-out RBI-double by sophomore second baseman Braden Sullivan put the Minutemen in front 1-0.

In the top of the seventh, freshman Lucas Alberti broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff double to left-center.  He advanced to third on a fly out, but the Patriots were unable to plate a run.

With one out in the top of the eighth, sophomore right fielder Owen Hull singled up the middle.  With two outs, Hull stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error.  Sophomore second baseman Jake Butler stepped to the plate and delivered with a single to center to tie the game 1-1.

Graduate student Daniel Elliott took over on the mound to start the ninth.  With one out, UMass junior left fielder Sam Hill doubled to right-center and moved to third on a fly out.  Sophomore Matt Travisano popped the ball up on the right side of the infield but the ball was dropped and Hill crossed the plate to give the Minutemen the 2-1 walk-off win.

For the Patriots, O'Hara gave up one run on eight hits in 8.0 innings.  He struck out 10 and walked just two.  Elliott (2-3) gave up one hit and was charged with an unearned run and took the loss.

For the Minutemen, Powers (3-1) allowed one run on four hits in the complete-game win.  He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning.

Butler went 1-for-2, reached base three times and drove in the lone run of the game.  Alberti was 1-for-3 with a double for the only extra base hit of the day for the Patriots.  Hull and Raymond were each 1-for-4 with a single.

The Patriots and Minutemen play the rubber game of the series on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for noon at Earl Lorden Field in Amherst, Mass.