Box score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots rallied in the late innings but dropped their midweek, non-conference game to Towson, 5-4, on Wednesday at Spuhler Field.

THE LEADOFF

• Freshman second baseman Julius Bagnerise hit his second home run of the season and first at Spuhler Field.
• Graduate student center fielder Luciano Terilli reached base four times with two hits and two walks.
• Senior right fielder Laken Tignor had two hits including a double and scored a run.

Towson (14-15, 4-11CAA) took the lead against George Mason (15-15, 8-4 A-10) junior starter Tanner Kaler in the top of the first.  With one on a two out, sophomore first baseman Nich Francuzenk hit a two-run home run to right field to put the Tigers in front, 2-0.

Kaler, who made his first start as a Patriot, struck out the side in the second inning.

Tigers senior starter Jake Michel pitched two hitless innings in his second start of the season.

The Tigers added a run against George Mason graduate student reliever Tyson Willis in the top of the third.  With two outs, Towson put runners on first and second with a single and hit batter, and Francuzenk plated a run with a single to right field to make it 3-0.

The Patriots got on the board with two outs in the bottom of the fifth against senior reliever Matt Lynch.  Tignor singled to right field and Bagnerise followed with a two-run home run over the right field fence to pull the Patriots within a run, 3-2.

Towson added two runs in the top of the eighth against Patriots freshman right-hander Aiden Parker.  With two on and two out, Tigers junior second baseman Yariel Rodriguez delivered with a two-run single to right field to increase the lead to 5-2.

In the home half of the eighth, Bagnerise led off with a walk against Tigers freshman reliever Aden Knowles.  With two outs, Patriots sophomore left fielder Lucas Alberti plated a run with a single to make the score 5-3.

The Patriots put together a two out rally in the bottom of the ninth against Towson senior closer Jacob Whiteman.  Tignor doubled and scored when Bagnerize reached on a throwing error to make it a one-run game.  With Bagnerise on third, junior first baseman Jake Butler walked to put runners on the corners, but a fly out ended the game.

The Patriots used six pitchers.  Kaler (0-1) allowed two runs on one hit in 2.0 innings.  Willis gave up a run on two hits in the third inning.  Parker surrendered two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings.

The Tigers used seven pitchers.  Michel (1-0) tossed 2.0 hitless innings.  Lynch allowed two runs on two hits in the fifth inning.  Knowles gave up one run on one hit and two walks in the eighth inning.  Whiteman allowed a run on one hit in the ninth but earned his fourth save of the season.

The Patriots host Richmond for a three-game series in Atlantic 10 play beginning Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. at Spuhler Field.