FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason baseball team dropped the middle game of the final regular season series to Fordham, 13-3, on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

THE LEADOFF

• Junior center fielder James Quinn-Irons hit two doubles on the day, marking his fifth time this season recording two doubles in one game.
• Junior third baseman Evan Blanchard recorded the Patriots first run of the game in the seventh inning with an RBI double to left center.
• Junior pinch hitter Drew Canody went two-for-two with an RBI double in the seventh as well.
• The Patriots are now 20-4 at home and 20-9 in Atlantic 10 play.

George Mason (36-18, 20-9 A-10) was shut out the first six innings of the game, while Fordham (24-31, 14-15 A-10) scored in seven of the nine innings played. The only innings the Rams did not record a run was in the third and ninth innings.

The Rams struck early in the first inning, scoring three runs, followed by two in the second. The Patriots were down 5-0 before they recorded their first hit on the day in the third inning with a two out single down the left field line by Jonny Wall.

Fordham's starting pitcher Ameer Hasan went seven full innings and allowed three runs and struck out four Patriots. For George Mason, freshman Michael Bilo saw the most action on the mound, having gone 3.2 innings with two strikeouts. Starter Connor O'Hara and reliever Brandon Cassedy also recorded two strikeouts as well. 

Down 11-0, the Patriots got on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning when they started out with three consecutive hits. Starting with a Nick Barenz leadoff single, junior third baseman Evan Blanchard hit an RBI double to left center, scoring Barenz from first. Up next to bat was pinch hitter Drew Canody, who then doubled down the left field line, scoring Blanchard as well.

George Mason scored their last run of the game the following inning. After Quinn-Irons led the inning off with his second double of the game and advanced to third on a Patriot flyout, sophomore second baseman Jake Butler drove Quinn-Irons home with a sacrifice flyout to left.

Quinn-Irons went 2-for-4 with two doubles.  Canody went 2-for-2 with an RBI double.  Blanchard went 1-for-3 with an RBI double as well.  Barenz and Wall finished with one hit as well to round out the Patriot offense.

The Patriots conclude the regular season tomorrow with the final game of the series, as well as Senior Day. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Spuhler Field.