Box Score Box score (PDF)
FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots scored five runs in the third inning in a 7-5 victory over Richmond in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
THE LEADOFF
- Junior first baseman Matthew Westley had three hits and scored two runs.
- Senior designated hitter Evan Blanchard reached base four times and scored a run.
- Senior shortstop Owen Clyne drove in two runs.
Richmond (19-16, 8-7 A-10) took the lead against George Mason (16-17, 9-6 A-10) sophomore starter
Jake Drumm with four singles in the top of the second. Junior third baseman Aidan O'Keeffe and freshman shortstop Noah Haught had back-to-back two-out, RBI-singles to put the Spiders in front 2-0.
In the bottom of the third, the Patriots sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs on four hits against Richmond junior starter Jackson Hinchliffe to take a 5-2 lead.
Westley led off with a single,
Evan Blanchard was hit by a pitch and senior right fielder
Drew Canody walked to load the bases. Graduate student catcher
Logan Vaughan then walked to force in the Patriots first run of the game. Clyne and sophomore left fielder
Lucas Alberti followed with back-to-back sacrifice flies to make it 3-2 Patriots. Junior third baseman
Jake Butler finished the big inning with a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Patriots sent eight batters to the plate and added a pair of runs against Richmond freshman Aaron Van Tuyle. Westley led off with a single through the left side and Blanchard singled to left to put runners on the corners. Blanchard stole second and with one out, Vaughan walked to load the bases. Clyne delivered a RBI-single to center and with two outs, Terilli was hit by a pitch to force in another to pad the lead to 7-2.
The Spiders got a run back with two outs in the top of the seventh against George Mason graduate student reliever
Carter Kelsey. After a single and an error put two runners on base, Spiders graduate student designated hitter Sean Scanlon doubled in a run to make it 7-3.
In the top of the eighth, Richmond loaded the bases with an infield single, double and throwing error. The Spiders scored a run on a wild pitch and another with a single to left field to pull within two runs, 7-5.
George Mason redshirt-junior Owen Steward recorded the final two outs of the inning to end the threat and went on to notch his fifth save of the season.
For the Patriots, Drumm (3-0) allowed two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and two walks in 6.0 innings. Kelsey gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits in 1.1 innings. Stewart tossed 1.2 hitless innings to earn his fifth save of the season.
For the Spiders, Hinchliffe (2-4) allowed five runs on three hits in 2.2 innings. Tuyle gave up two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings.
The Patriots travel for a midweek game against Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday, April 14 with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Straw Family Stadium in Emmitsburg, Md.
