Box score (PDF)

KINGSTON, R.I. – The Patriots allowed seven runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and dropped the final game of their series at Rhode Island, 10-9, on Sunday afternoon at Bill Beck Field in Kingston, R.I.

THE LEADOFF

• Sophomore left field Lucas Alberti had three hits, three RBI and scored a run.
• Senior shortstop Owen Clyne had two hits three RBI and one run scored.
• The Rams scored seven runs on five hits and two walks with two outs in the ninth.

George Mason (10-11, 4-1 A-10) took the lead in the first inning against Rhode Island (6-15, 3-3 A-10) junior starter Evan Malony.  Freshman second baseman Julius Bagnerise led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.  Senior shortstop Owen Clyne walked and advanced to second on defensive interference to put a pair of runners in scoring position.  Sophomore left fielder Lucas Alberti drove in a run with an infield single and with two outs, junior first baseman Matthew Westley delivered a two-run single to put the Patriots in front, 3-0.

In the top of the second, senior right fielder Drew Canody was hit by a pitch and scored on a two-out double by junior third baseman Jake Butler to make it 4-0.

Rhode Island got on the board in the bottom of the fourth against Patriots sophomore starter Jake Drumm.  A leadoff walk and a single put runners on the corners and the first run for the Rams crossed the plate with two outs on a wild pitch.

The Patriots scored a single run in the top of the fifth against Rams sophomore reliever Jake Cullen.  Bagnerise reached on a fielding error to start the inning, advancing to second base on the play, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.  Clyne then plated a run with a groundout to make the score 5-1.

In the home half of the sixth, Rams senior right fielder Jack Hopko hit a two-run home run to make it a two-run game, 5-3.

In the top of the ninth, the Patriots sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs on five hits against four Rams relievers to pad the lead to 9-3.  The first six batters of the inning reached base.

Rhode Island sent nine batters to plate in the bottom of the ninth and scored seven runs on five hits and two walks with two outs against graduate students Brandon Hsu and Carter Kelsey. 

The Rams put together two RBI-singles, a walk with the bases loaded to force in a run and another run on a wild pitch to cut the lead to two runs.  With runners on first and second, junior catcher Nicholas Toro hit a three-run, walk off home run off Kelsey to lift Rhode Island to the 10-9 victory.

For the Patriots, Drumm allowed three runs on six hits in 5.0 innings.  Redshirt-junior Owen Stewart tossed 3.0 innings on one-hit ball.  Hsu surrendered five runs on four hits and retired two batters in the ninth.  Kelsey (0-1) gave up two runs on one hit and a walk and took the loss.

The Rams used six pitchers in the game.  Maloney allowed four runs on three hits in 1.2 innings.  Cullen gave up one run on one hit over 4.1 innings of work.  Senior Luc Lavigueur (1-0) retired three batters in the ninth to earn the win.

The Patriots return home to host Longwood on Tuesday with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Spuhler Field.