Fairfax, Virginia – (April 23, 2022) – George Mason's Connor Dykstra connected on the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Patriots an 8-7 walk-off win over the Fordham Rams at Spuhler Field.
The Patriots (13-24, 5-6 A10) opened the scoring in the first inning, as they loaded the bases and picked up a sacrifice fly by Brett Ahalt.
Fordham (9-26, 4-7 A10) answered with two runs in the third and one in the fourth to grab a 3-1 lead. With one out in the third,
Ryan Thiesse and
David Kale registered back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners. Kale then stole second to put two in scoring position. Both runners came around to score with Thiesse scoring on an RBI-ground out by
Cian Sahler and Kale coming in on a wild pitch.
In the fourth,
Will Findlay accounted for the Rams' lone run, as he hit a solo home run to left center, his third of the year.
George Mason tied the game at three with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Fordham regained the lead at 4-3 in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by
Andy Semo. The seesaw scoring continued with three runs in the bottom of the fifth for the Patriots, highlighted by a two-run single from Alex Knapp.
After exchanging runs that made it a 7-5 game, Fordham tied the game in the top of the eighth inning.
Zach Selinger was at second with two outs, when Thiesse lined a shot off the glove of a leaping first baseman, scoring Selinger from second. Kale followed with a double to left, just out of the reach of the left fielder, where Thiesse was able to slide in safely to home ahead of the tag.
Fordham then had a chance to take the lead in the ninth with two on and one out, but Selinger flew out to center with
Jack Harnisch grounding out to first to end the potential rally.
George Mason would however capitalize on their ninth inning chance, as Danny Hosley and Kamron Smith were both hit by a pitch and moved up a base on a wild pitch. Connor Dykstra then ended the came with a single to center, scoring Hosley for the 8-7 final.
For Fordham, Thiesse finished the game 3-for-3 with three runs scored, a stolen base, and an RBI, while Kale was 2-for-4 with an RBI-double and a run scored.
Sebastian Mexico also had two hits in the game to go with a run scored and a stolen base.
The rubber game of this three-game series is set for Sunday at 1:00 PM.
