Box score (PDF)

AMHERST, Mass. – Junior starter Brandon Cassedy tossed seven strong innings in the Patriots 12-1 victory in eight innings at Massachusetts in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field in Amherst, Mass.

THE LEADOFF

• Cassedy didn't allow a runner into scoring position over the first six innings.
• Sophomore right fielder Owen Hull hit his sixth home run of the season.
• Junior center fielder James Quinn-Irons had three hits, including his 19th double.
• Sophomore second baseman Jake Butler had two hits and two RBI.
• Every player in the lineup reached base at least once, five players had a multi-hit game and five players scored two runs.

George Mason (26-14, 12-6 A-10) took the lead against Massachusetts (11-22-1, 5-13 A-10) junior starter Sam Belliveau in the top of the second.  With one out, freshman catcher Andrew Raymond doubled to left field and sophomore designated hitter Toby Hueber followed with a double to the gap in right-center to put the Patriots in front, 1-0.

With two outs, freshman left fielder Lucas Alberti walked to put runners on first and second, and graduate student first baseman Jonny Wall plated a run with a base hit to right field to make it 2-0.

Hull led off the top of the third with a single and Quinn-Irons followed with his 19th double of the year to put runners on second and third.  Butler then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to collect his 53rd RBI of the season with Hull coasting across the plate with the third run of the day.  Butler has at least one RBI in five straight games and nine of the last 10.

The Patriots put together a two-out rally in the top of the fourth.  Wall was hit by a pitch and junior shortstop Owen Clyne reached on a fielding error.  Hull stepped to the plate and got ahead in the count 2-0 before belting a three-run home run over the right field fence for his sixth homer of the season to double the advantage to 6-0.

George Mason added three more runs in the top of the sixth against UMass sophomore reliever Bobby McDonough.  Wall was hit by a pitch and Clyne singled to start the inning.  Hull moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.  Quinn-Irons drove in a pair of runs with a single to right field to extend the lead to 8-0.  Butler kept the line moving with an infield single and Raymond lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make the score 9-0.

In the top of the seventh, Blanchard led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on a ground out.  Wall then doubled to the gap in right-center to pad the lead to 10-0.

In the home half of the inning, the Minutemen loaded the bases with on a fielding error and two singles.  With one out, UMass scored its lone run of the game on a fielder's choice ground out.

The Patriots tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the eighth, Butler knocked in a run with a single and scored on a throwing error, for the 12-1 final score.

For the Patriots, Cassedy (5-1) was charged with one unearned run in 7.0 innings.  He struck out four without a walk.  Junior Owen Stewart pitched the eighth in his third appearance of the season.

For the Minutemen, Belliveau (0-4) allowed six runs, three earned, on eight hits in 5.0 innings and took the loss.  McDonough surrendered six runs, five earned, on six hits in 3.0 innings.

Quinn-Irons went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored.  Hull was 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and scored twice.  Wall finished 2-for-2, was hit by a pitch twice, drove in two runs and scored two runs.  Blanchard went 2-for-5 and scored two runs.

The Patriots are back on the road for a non-conference game against Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. in Emmitsburg, Md.