FINAL SCORE 
George Mason 9 (5-4)
Monmouth 3 (3-5)

FAIRFAX, VA. – George Mason University scored the final seven runs of the game and secured a 9-3 win over the Monmouth University baseball team in the series opener on Friday.
 
Both teams got the scoring started in the first inning. Casey Caufield had a one-out double and came around to score on Jay Bant's double. Wyatt Hunt tacked on an RBI groundout, which gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
 
George Mason answered with two runs in the bottom of the first and tied the game. 
 
Bant gave the Hawks the lead back in the top of the fifth as his RBI single scored Nick Lovarco. 
 
A two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth put the Patriots on top for good, 4-3.
 
George Mason added two runs in the sixth, two runs in the seventh and one the eighth for the 9-3 final. 

NOTES
- It's the second straight season that the Hawks and Patriots have met for a three-game set. 
- George Mason leads the all-time series 6-4 with Friday's victory. 
- Jake Howlett made his Monmouth debut in the contest and recoded his first collegiate hit with a pinch-hit single. 
- Chris Walsh started in left field for the Hawks, the third different position he's played this year (1B, DH, LF).   

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Jay Bant had two hits and two RBIs for Monmouth. Bant has recorded multiple hits in each of his last two games (5-for-10 combined).
- Harry Padden had a pair of base knocks and has hit safely in four straight games. 
- Wyatt Hunt had a season-high three hits for the Hawks and has hit in four straight contests. 
- Nick Lovarco walked twice and scored two runs for the Hawks. It was his second game this season with multiple runs scored in a game. 
- Casey Caufield had a double and has now hit safely in four straight games.
- Kevin Opanel started for the Hawks and had a season-high three strikeouts in three innings of work.
- Austin Beard suffered the loss for the Hawks as he gave up four runs in 2.2 innings of work
- Jake Drumm earned the win for George Mason as he went 2.2 innings in relief and allowed just one unearned run.
  
NEXT UP
Monmouth and George Mason play the middle game of the series on Saturday, Mar. 1 at 1 p.m.