Chris Torres/Fourth Estate
The series win now moves the Patriots into second place in the A-10 conference
BY CHRIS TORRES, STAFF WRITER
Mason baseball capped off a three-game weekend series sweep with a walk-off win against Saint Louis at Spuhler Field. On April 5, sophomore designated hitter Owen Hull hit a walk off home run in the 10th inning, giving the Patriots an 8-6 victory and completing the sweep.
In game one, April 4, the Patriots built an early lead and defeated the Billikens 7-5. In the first inning, junior center fielder James Quinn-Irons gave Mason an early lead after hitting a two-run home run. Followed up in the second inning, Hull hit a two-run single to make it 4-0.
Mason’s lead soon disappeared in the fourth inning after junior infielder Ian Blazier and sophomore first baseman Riley Iffrig hit back-to-back two-run singles to tie the game for Saint Louis.
Junior shortstop Owen Clyne propelled the Patriots in the sixth inning with a two-run single to make it 6-4. The Billikens later cut the lead to one in the eighth inning, but Mason responded with a run as sophomore second baseman Toby Hueber scored off two throwing errors by Saint Louis.
Graduate student pitcher Gardner Meeks received credit for his first win of the season, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing one run and striking out three batters in relief of graduate student starting pitcher Sam Lavin.
The Patriots won the second game on April 5, 7-2, in comfortable fashion. In the third inning, Quinn-Irons outfront the Patriots after hitting an RBI double and later scored after sophomore second baseman Jake Butler hit a sacrifice bunt, making Mason 2-0.
Saint Louis scored in the fourth inning, but Mason responded in their home half courtesy of an RBI groundout by graduate student designated hitter Nick Barenz. By the seventh inning, Quinn Irons hit his second RBI of the game to make it 4-1. The eighth inning saw the Patriots score three runs as Barenz, Clyne, and Hull all hit RBI singles to put the game out of reach.
Graduate student starting pitcher Connor O’Hara pitched 7.2 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out five to get his fourth win of the season.
In the series finale, the Patriots began with an early lead once again as junior third baseman Evan Blanchard hit a double, giving Mason a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Clyne extended the lead with a two-run single in the fourth inning. Mason junior starting pitcher Brandon Cassedy took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and allowed two hits in eight scoreless innings.
Lavin added an insurance run in the eighth to seemingly put the game out of reach for the Billikens. However, in the ninth inning, Saint Louis scored six runs, including a three-run home run by Max McGwire, giving the Billikens a 6-4 lead. Butler hit a game-tying single in the home half of the ninth inning for Mason to force extra innings.
Senior pitcher Britt Yount recorded three outs in the 10th inning to set up the Patriots with a chance to win. Hull stepped up with a runner on first and hit the walk-off home run to right field to secure victory for the Patriots and complete the series sweep of Saint Louis. Hull finished the series 8-for-11 with five RBI.
The Patriots move to a 20-12 record on the season and 8-4 in the Atlantic 10, placing second behind Davidson. George Mason plays Towson next on Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Maryland.