The George Mason Patriots lost their home opener to Georgetown University, 6-5, on Friday afternoon at Spuhler Field. Despite overcoming an early four-run deficit, the Patriots could not complete the comeback.
Junior catcher Vincent Cowdrey led George Mason offensively, finishing the game 4-for-4 with a walk, one RBI, and a run scored. Graduate student center fielder Luciano Terilli contributed two hits in four at-bats, walked once, and scored a run. Senior right fielder Drew Canody added one hit in three at-bats, drew two walks, and drove in a run.
Georgetown took an early lead in the second inning against Patriots redshirt-junior starter Owen Stewart. After loading the bases with a single and two walks, graduate student catcher Connor Price doubled to drive in two runs for the Hoyas. Georgetown added another run in the third after a throwing error by George Mason allowed a runner to advance to third base before scoring on an RBI single.
George Mason responded in the fourth inning when freshman second baseman Julius Bagnerise singled and stole second base. Cowdrey followed with an RBI single to right field. He later advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Canody’s RBI single up the middle, cutting Georgetown’s lead to 3-2.
Georgetown extended its advantage in the fifth inning by sending eight batters to the plate and scoring three runs on two hits and three walks against George Mason pitchers Tanner Kaler and Brandon Hsu. Sophomore right fielder Christian Hamilton hit a two-run home run during that frame.
The Patriots reduced the deficit in the sixth inning as junior designated hitter Matthew Westley walked and Cowdrey singled. After advancing runners with a sacrifice bunt, Canody walked to load the bases. Senior shortstop Owen Clyne grounded out but brought home a run to make it 6-3.
In the seventh inning, Terilli led off with a double for George Mason and later scored on junior first baseman Jake Butler’s double. Butler then moved to third on a groundout and scored following a throwing error on an attempted pickoff play, bringing George Mason within one run at 6-5.
With two outs in that inning, Georgetown sophomore reliever Ethan Rucker issued three consecutive walks but graduate student Luke Jackman entered from the bullpen and secured the final out.
Stewart took his second loss of the season for George Mason after allowing three runs over four innings with three strikeouts and two walks. Kaler was charged with two runs while recording just one out; Hsu gave up one run over 1.2 innings while striking out four batters; graduate student Tyson Willis pitched three hitless innings with four strikeouts.
For Georgetown, senior starter Kai Leckszas earned his third win of the year after giving up two runs over five innings. Jackman recorded his third save of the season by pitching 2.1 scoreless innings.
The series between George Mason (5-6) and Georgetown (9-5) continues Saturday at Capital One Park in Tysons, Virginia with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.
