The Patriots achieved season highs in both hits and runs during a 16-1 victory against George Washington in the opening game of a three-game series on May 1 at Spuhler Field.
The game saw every player in the lineup collect at least one hit, with seven players posting multi-hit games and seven players driving in at least two runs. Senior designated hitter Evan Blanchard had three hits, two runs batted in, and scored twice. Graduate student catcher Logan Vaughan also contributed three hits, two runs batted in, and two runs scored. Sophomore left fielder Lucas Alberti finished with two hits, three runs batted in, and scored three times. Junior first baseman Matthew Westley added two hits, two runs batted in, and crossed home plate three times.
Senior starting pitcher Logan Rumberg allowed only four hits over six innings to earn his fifth win of the season while matching his career high with nine strikeouts. The Patriots drew a season-high thirteen walks during the game.
George Washington took an early lead with an unearned run in the top of the second inning after junior third baseman Cristino Tugano reached on an error and later scored on a wild pitch. The Patriots responded by tying the score through Jackson Morse’s ground out before pulling ahead with a six-run third inning that included key singles from Owen Clyne and Jake Butler.
George Mason continued to build their lead throughout the middle innings as Blanchard singled home another run in the fourth. In the fifth inning, Clyne delivered a double—the team’s only extra-base hit—while Alberti, Westley, and Blanchard each drove home runners to make it 11-1. The eighth inning featured five more Patriot runs off six hits.
Rumberg (5-2) earned the win for George Mason by giving up just one unearned run across six innings pitched. Junior Parker Thomas pitched three scoreless innings for his first save of the year. For George Washington, starter Gavin Miller took the loss after allowing four runs over two innings.
The teams are scheduled to play again Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
