Fairfax, VA - Junior shortstop Dalton Rouleau went 1-3 with a home run and two runs batted in for Hofstra, but George Mason rallied for four runs in sixth inning en route to a 5-3 win over the Pride on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
Hofstra drops to 4-8 with the loss, while George Mason improves to 10-4 with the victory. Junior righty John Tiedemann (1-2) took the loss for Hofstra on the mound, as he allowed five runs and four hits in 5.1 innings of work. Tiedemann did have six strikeouts in the contest. Ryan Pfaeffle (2-0) worked six innings for the victorious Patriots, allowing six hits and three runs (one earned). Chris O'Grady pitched the final three innings of the game to earn his fourth save.
First baseman Mick Foley led the George Mason charge as he batted 2-4 with a pair of RBIs.
Hofstra jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the contest as senior right fielder Danny Poma singled with one out in the first and eventually made his way to third base on a ground out and stolen base. Sophomore leftfielder Kenny Jackson would then drive in the game's first run as he singled to right with two outs in the first.
The Pride pushed their advantage to 3-0 with a two-spot in the second stanza. With two outs in the inning, Junior centerfielder Austin Nyman reached base on an error by the second baseman and Rouleau took full advantage of the George Mason miscue and drilled a two-run home run to left field to put Hofstra ahead by three runs.
The Patriots would get one run back in the fourth inning as a double from senior first baseman Zach Helgeson moved senior right fielder Dan Schafferman, who walked, to third. Junior center fielder Nick Allen would follow for George Mason with a sacrifice fly to right to get the Patriots on the board.
George Mason erupted in the sixth inning for four runs as the Patriots sent nine men to the plate, scoring the four runs on four hits. Foley had the biggest hit of the inning as he singled up the middle to score a pair of runs that gave George Mason a 4-3 lead at the time.
Sophomore shortstop Jordan Hill added a run-scoring single with two outs in the sixth for the Patriots to push their advantage to two runs, 5-3.
Hofstra would have one final chance in the ninth inning as the Pride entered the top half of the inning still trailing by a pair of runs. Hofstra was unable to mount a final rally, though, as the Pride got one runner on but never threatened in falling 5-3.
Hofstra returns to action on Sunday when they conclude the three-game series with George Mason. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
