RALLY COMES UP SHORT FOR HIGHLANDERS AT GEORGE MASON

BOX SCORE FAIRFAX, Va. - Radford rallied for two runs in the ninth and brought the go-ahead run to the plate, but George Mason held on for a 5-4 victory Tuesday at Spuhler Field.

RU (10-9, 2-1) stranded a pair of runners in its final at bat as Shane Johnsonbaugh flew out to left field with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. The runners were the 11th and 12th stranded by the Highlanders on the afternoon.

Trailing 5-2 entering the top of the last, Josh Gardiner led off with a standup double to right center. Josh Reavis followed with a base on balls, and Jeff Kemp extended his hitting steak to seven games with an RBI single. Zach Woolcock delivered a one-out RBI single to cut the Mason lead to 5-4, but the Highlanders could not push across the tying run.

The Highlanders failed to take advantage of sloppy play by the Patriots the early innings. In the third inning alone, GMU committed three fielding errors, and RU did not come up with a run in the inning. In the fourth, the Highlanders missed a chance to score when Woolcock was thrown out at the plate on a safety squeeze play.

George Mason (10-10) answered those missed opportunities for RU with a four-run fourth inning stringing together four extra base hits in the inning.

RU answered back in the fifth with two runs on RBI singles by Woolcock and Alexander Lee. Lee finished the day 3-5, and Woolcock was 2-4 as they were the only Highlanders to record multiple hits.

GMU added an insurance run in the fifth that turned out to be the difference in the game. Six of the Patriots' 10 base hits on the day went for extra bases (5 doubles, 1 triple).

Dylan Nelson (2-2) took the loss for the Highlanders. He went 3.2 innings and gave up four earned runs with a walk and a strikeout. Michael Bowie earned the win for GMU.

The Highlanders will play host this weekend to Marshall in a four-game series. Friday's first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m., while Saturday's doubleheader begins at 2:00. Sunday's finale is set to 2:00 as well.

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