TYSONS, Va. – The fourth-seeded George Mason baseball team dropped its opening game to fifth-seeded Rhode Island in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship, 19-8, at Capital One Park in Tysons, Va.

Rhode Island took the lead in the top of the second with a solo home run and the Patriots responded in the bottom of the inning with a one-out double by junior first baseman Jake Butler and a RBI-groundout by freshman second baseman Julius Bagnerise to tie the score.

In the top of the third, the Rams sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs on seven hits to take a 6-1 lead.

The Patriots got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a RBI-groundout by senior shortstop Owen Clyne to make it 6-2.

The teams traded runs in the fourth, with the Rams plating a run on a solo home run and senior designated hitter Evan Blanchard driving in a run with a single.

In the top of the sixth, the Rams sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs on five hits to extend the advantage to 13-3.

Rhode Island batted around in the seventh and added four runs on three hits to make it 17-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Patriots sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs on three hits and three walks to make the scored 17-7. Sophomore left fielder Lucas Alberti had a two-run single, graduate student Luciano Terilli drove in a run with a groundout and Bagnerise forced in a run with a bases loaded walk.

Alberti drove in a run with a single to center field in the bottom of the eighth to make it 17-8.

The Rams concluded the scoring with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to place the final score at 19-8.

The Patriots will face the winner of the game between third-seeded VCU and sixth-seeded Davidson in an elimination game with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. at Capital One Park.