The George Mason baseball team (0-1) took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, however the Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0) were able to tack on the two runs they needed as they won 4-3 on Friday evening.
After entering the game in relief to begin the bottom of the ninth, Tyler Tobin walked Pat Porter and allowed a double to Nick Sergakis to put men on second and third with no outs. Aaron Gretz was intentionally walked to load the bases which set up Porter to score the tying run after Jake Bosiokovic was hit by a pitch. Sergakis scored the winning run after a wild pitch brought him home in the next at bat.
Sophomore Tyler Zombro opened the season on the mound for Mason, throwing six innings and exiting the game with the 3-2 lead. Zombro allowed a first inning solo homerun to Ronnie Dawson but settled in to allow two earned runs on four hits with a career-high eight strikeouts.
The Patriots grabbed the lead in the top of the third inning after freshman Michael Smith doubled down the left field line with two outs and senior Luke Willis brought him home on a triple into the left-center gap. Brandon Gum followed Willis with a double into right field for the 2-1 lead. Willis ended the evening 3-4 from the plate with the RBI and a run scored.
The Buckeyes evened the score at two apiece in the bottom of the frame, however Mason responded in the top of the fourth to retake the lead. Jake Kalish led off the inning with a walk and freshmanBrady Acker singled up the middle to move him to third. Ray Toto flied a ball into right field for the lead.
Mark Maksimow stepped in relief for Zombro to throw a perfect seventh inning and Joe Williams made his Mason debut, allowing a leadoff triple but picking off the runner afterwards while getting out of the eighth inning.
Mason totaled three runs on seven hits with one error while Ohio State scored its four runs on six hits.
The Patriots return to the field in Port Charlotte at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 14 against Kansas State.
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