Patriots Down FIU in Final Game of Series
Mason senior starter Ryan Peterson tossed five strong innings and freshman James Quinn-Irons homered for the second time in three games as the Patriots won the final game of their series against Florida International, 5-2, at FIU Baseball Stadium.
Mason (2-1) fell behind in the bottom of the first inning when FIU (1-2) junior Ryne Guide doubled in a run to put Panthers in front, 1-0.
With one out in the top of the second, Quinn-Irons evened the score with a solo home run over the left field fence off FIU senior starter Angel Tiburcio.
The Patriots took the lead for good in the top of the fifth against FIU junior reliever Orlando Hernandez.
With one out, junior right fielder Derek Powell doubled and stole third and senior first baseman South Trimble was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Senior second baseman Brett Stallings drove in Powell with a sacrifice bunt to give the Patriots a 2-1 lead.
Junior center fielder Jordan Smith and junior third baseman Mark Trotta followed with back-to-back RBI singles to make it a 4-1 game.
In the home half of the fifth, the Panthers loaded the bases with no outs and got a run back on a double play groundout, but Peterson was able to limit the damage.
The Patriots added an insurance run in the top of the ninth against FIU junior Zac Lampton. Trimble was hit by a pitch to start the inning and wasted no time stealing second. Stallings then singled up the middle, with Trimble racing around to score the final run of the day to make it 5-2.
For the Patriots, Peterson (1-0) allowed two runs on two hits over 5.0 innings to earn the win in his first start of the year. Freshman Owen Stewart tossed 3.0 scoreless innings in his collegiate debut. Junior Christian Mracna retired three straight in the ninth in his first appearance of the season.
For the Panthers, Tiburcio allowed one run on two hits in 4.0 innings in a no-decision. Hernandez (0-1) surrendered three runs on five hits in 4.0 innings and took the loss. Lampton gave up one run on one hit in the ninth.
Stallings went 1-for-3, had two sacrifice bunts and drove in a pair of runs. Smith and Quinn-Irons both finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and scored a run. Trotta also knocked in a run.
The Patriots play their first midweek game of the season at James Madison on Tuesday with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg, Va.
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