The George Mason Patriots baseball team secured their fifth consecutive win with an 11-2 victory over James Madison University on Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Senior right fielder Drew Canody played a key role for the Patriots, hitting a grand slam and scoring three runs. Sophomore left fielder Lucas Alberti contributed two two-run singles. Freshman second baseman Julius Bagnerise reached base three times and stole five bases, while freshman third baseman Jackson Morse scored three runs. Senior shortstop Owen Clyne recorded three extra-base hits—a triple and two doubles—and sophomore Jake Drumm earned his first collegiate save.
Graduate student starter Diego Cardenas began the game by retiring the first eight batters he faced, with both teams remaining scoreless through three innings. James Madison’s junior shortstop Josiah Seguin put the Dukes ahead in the fourth inning with a leadoff home run.
The Patriots responded in the fifth inning against JMU reliever Griffin Polley. Morse led off with a walk, followed by Canody being hit by a pitch. After Clyne moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, Alberti singled up the middle to give George Mason a 2-1 lead.
In the sixth inning, Bagnerise walked and advanced to third after junior catcher Vincent Cowdrey was hit by a pitch. Bagnerise then stole third base and scored on a throwing error to increase the lead to 3-1. The Patriots continued to build their advantage as Morse drew another walk and Canody was hit by another pitch to load the bases. Clyne drove in one run with a ground out before Alberti added two more RBIs with his second single of the day, making it 6-1.
James Madison scored its final run in the seventh inning on an infield RBI-single.
The ninth inning saw George Mason send ten batters to the plate, scoring five runs on four hits and three walks against three different JMU pitchers. Canody delivered a grand slam over left-center field during this rally, while graduate student center fielder Luciano Terilli also contributed an RBI single.
Cardenas (2-1) allowed just one run on two hits over five innings for George Mason and struck out four without issuing any walks. Drumm pitched four innings in relief, giving up an unearned run on four hits while striking out five without walking anyone.
Clyne finished 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles, one triple, an RBI, and one run scored; Alberti went 2-for-5 with four RBIs; Bagnerise ended his day 1-for-4 with two walks and five stolen bases.
James Madison used nine pitchers throughout the game. Polley (0-2) took the loss after allowing two runs on one hit in just over an inning of work. Lane Duff gave up three runs during his brief appearance in relief, while Brode Susce surrendered one run across nearly two innings pitched.
The Patriots will continue their road trip tomorrow when they face Towson at Schuerholz Park in Towson, Maryland at 2 p.m.
