Box score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots dropped the middle game of their series to Richmond, 11-3, on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

Richmond (19-15, 8-6 A-10) took the lead against George Mason (15-17, 8-6 A-10) graduate student starter Diego Cardenas in the top of the second.  Richmond graduate student left fielder R.J. Johnson led off with a double to left field, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly to put the Spiders in front, 1-0.

The Patriots responded in the home half of the inning against Richmond sophomore starter Joey Giordano.  George Mason graduate student center fielder Luciano Terilli led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on a throwing error to tie the game 1-1.

The Spiders regained the lead in the top of the third.  With one out, graduate student designated hitter Sean Scanlon doubled and a batter later, he scored on a throwing error to make it 2-1.  Freshman center fielder Chris Schaller followed with a two-run home run to left field to increase the lead to 4-1.

In the top of the fifth, Richmond scored four runs against Patriots redshirt-sophomore reliever Brant Ertel with a two-run double and a two-run home run to extend the advantage to 8-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, pinch hitter Matthew Westley began the inning with a double down the left field line.  With one out, junior first baseman Jake Butler singled to center field to put runners on the corners and freshman second baseman Jackson Morse plated a run with a single to right field to make it 8-2.

Richmond tacked on a run with three straight two-out singles in the top of the eighth against George Mason junior reliever Parker Thomas to make the score 9-2.

With one out in the home half of the eighth, senior shortstop Owen Clyne hit his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot over the left field fence off Richmond senior reliever Chayse Gruber for the Patriots final run of the game.

The Spiders added two runs in the top of the ninth with a two-out, two-run double by Schaller for the 11-3 final score.

For the Patriots, Cardenas (3-4) allowed four runs, two earned, on four hits in 4.0 innings and took the loss.  Ertel gave up four runs on three hits in 2.0 innings.  Thomas allowed one run on three hits in 1.2 innings.  Senior Shaun Okeeffe and graduate student Thomas Wrehe each gave up one run on one hit in the ninth inning. 

Westley went 2-for-2 with a double and scored a run.  Clyne hit his fourth home run of the season.  Morse was 1-for-3 and drove in a run.

For the Spiders, Giordano (8-0) allowed two runs on three hits in 6.1 innings and earned the win.  Gruber gave up one run on two hits in 2.2 innings.

The Patriots and Spiders wrap up the series on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for noon at Spuhler Field.