FAIRFAX, VA. – A four-run rally in the fifth inning and a five-run rally in the sixth inning led George Mason past Longwood, 13-6, Tuesday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
 
Ryan Tassone led the way at the plate for the Patriots with a 3-for-5 game and had a game-high four RBI, two of which came on a game-tying two-run single in the fifth inning. George Mason (4-12) had only eight hits in the game, but drew 14 walks, the most Longwood (10-7) has allowed in one game.
 
"Our hitters came out with the right mindset and put some really good swings on the ball early in the game," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said after the loss. "Alex Lewis and Connar Bastaich swung the bat very well and led our offensive charge."
 
In the loss Lewis put together another strong game with a 2-for-3 day at the plate with two doubles and three RBI. Lewis upped his season batting average to .312 and leads the team with 21 RBI. Lewis also leads Longwood with 10 extra-base hits after tying for the team lead with his fifth and sixth doubles on the season.
 
Bastaich also hit well for the Lancers, picking up three hits in a 3-for-4 game, his first three-hit game of the season. The senior first baseman leads Longwood with a .317 batting average on the year.
 
Sammy Miller, who started the game at catcher for the first time on the season, continued his strong play as the lead-off hitter. The sophomore drew a pair of walks, stole two bases and scored a run. Miller leads the Lancers with eight steals on the season.
 
Jon Peterson (1-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on one hit and four walks in 1.0 inning of work. Mark Maksimow (1-0) picked up the win after pitching two scoreless innings out of the bullpen and became the pitcher of record when the Patriots rallied for five runs in the bottom of the sixth.
 
"It was a very disappointing day on the mound," Mau said. "We didn't get a good performance from the guys we called upon and gave away too many free passes that ultimately put the game out of reach."
 
The loss broke up a three-game winning streak for the Lancers, who were 8-2 in the last 10 games entering the contest.
 
Longwood had a pair of multi-run leads in the game before George Mason's big rallies.
 
Longwood jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on the first of two RBI doubles by Lewis. In a 2-2 game in the top of the fifth, Lewis came up with a two-run double as a part of a four-run rally. Colton Konvicka capped off the scoring in the fifth with a two-run triple that made it 6-2 Longwood. Konvicka finished the game 1-for-4.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning Longwood starter Tyler Wirsu walked the first two hitters he faced and faced one more batter before he was replaced by Peterson. Once Peterson entered the game, back-to-back walks forced home a run and a wild pitch scored a second run, moving the tying run to scoring position. Tassone singled to center and knotted the game at six with the only hit in the four-run rally.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning it was a similar story as Peterson walked a pair of batters with one out, before he was replaced by Cameron Trichka. A walk loaded the bases and the rally continued with just one hit in the five-run rally, another two-run single by Tassone that made the score 11-6 in favor of George Mason.
 
Longwood has the day off Wednesday before opening the conference slate at home. The Lancers host the preseason Big South favorite Coastal Carolina Chanticleers for a three-game weekend series that starts Friday. First pitch Friday at Buddy Bolding Stadium is set for 4 p.m. Game one of the series will be the first "Game of the Week" broadcast on WVHL Kickin' Country 92.9 FM.
 
#GoWood