Box score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots defeated James Madison, 7-4, in the final home midweek game of the season on Tuesday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

THE LEADOFF

• Freshman right fielder Jackson Morse had three hits, one RBI and scored a run.
• Junior first baseman Matthew Westley had two hits, a walk and scored two runs.
• Junior third baseman Jake Butler had two hits including a double and drove in two runs.
• Junior Tanner Kaler earned his first win and graduate student Diego Cardenas his first save as a Patriot.

James Madison (16-23, 6-12 Sun Belt) took the lead against George Mason (19-19, 10-8 Atlantic 10) graduate student starter Brandon Hsu in the top of the second.  After two singles, both runners advanced into scoring position on a failed pickoff attempt and the Dukes took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run on a RBI-single.

James Madison added a run in the top of the third against Kaler.  The Dukes began the inning with back-to-back singles and both runners moved into scoring position on a groundout.  Senior third baseman Jack Guerrero then drove in a run with a groundout to make it 2-0.

In the top of the fourth, James Madison senior first baseman Wyatt Campbell hit a two-run home run to double the advantage to 4-0.

The Patriots began the comeback in the bottom of the fourth against Dukes senior reliver Tyler Muscar.  Senior shortstop Owen Clyne led off with a single up the middle and moved to both second and third on groundouts.  Butler then ripped his 11th double of the season to right field to put the Patriots on the board.

In the home half of the fifth, the Patriots sent nine batters to the plate and scored five runs on four hits against Muscar and senior Sam Pearne to take the lead for good, 6-4.  Graduate student center fielder Luciano Terilli had a two-run single, while graduate student catcher Logan Vaughan and Butler each singled in a run in the inning. 

The Patriots added a run in the bottom of the sixth against Dukes sophomore Luke McGrath.  Westley led off with a single to right field and stole both second and third.  Morse knocked in the final run of the game with a single to right field for the 7-4 final score.

The Patriots used five pitchers.  Hsu allowed an unearned run on five hits in 2.0 innings.  Kaler (1-1) gave up three runs on five hits in 3.0 innings and recorded his first win as a Patriot.  Graduate student Tyson Willis pitched a one-two-three sixth inning, junior Parker Thomas gave up just one hit over 2.0 innings of work and Cardenas worked the ninth to notch his first save in a George Mason uniform.

The Dukes used seven pitchers.  Senior starter Patrick Bauer tossed 3.0 innings of one-hit ball.  Muscar gave up two runs on three hits in 1.0 inning of work.  Pearne (0-1) allowed two runs on two hits, retired just one batter in his outing and took the loss.

The Patriots are on the road for a three-game Atlantic 10 series against Fordham beginning Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. in Bronx, N.Y.