Atlantic 10 Game Highlights
Arlington, Va. – (May 24, 2018) – George Mason's Greg Popatak went 3-for-4 with a three RBI and a run scored, while Bryce Nightengale and Ryan Ricci combined for a six-hitter, as the Patriots downed the Fordham Rams, 4-0, to start day two of the Atlantic 10 Championship, held at Tucker Field at Barcroft Park in Arlington, Va.
With the loss, Fordham (35-18-1) moves into the consolation bracket of the championship and will face George Washington in an elimination game at 5:00 PM today. George Mason (28-25) advances in the winner's bracket to face the winner of Saint Louis-Davidson.
George Mason struck right away in the first inning, as the Patriots loaded the bases with one out on a walk, a single, and an error. Greg Popatak then connected on a bases clearing double for a 3-0 lead
The score stayed that way until the sixth, when George Mason extended the lead to 4-0. Michael Smith singled home Popatak from second after reaching on a double.
Fordham threatened to tie the game in the top of the seventh, loading the bases on a single by
Matt Tarabek and walks to
C.J. Vazquez and
Billy Godrick. However, reliever Ryan Ricci got
Jake MacKenzie to pop out to second to end the inning.
C.J. Vazquez
Ricci would get the final six outs to record his third save of the season, allowing just one hit over 2.1 innings of relief. Bryce Nightengale improved to 6-6 on the year, giving up five hits and three walks over 6.2 innings of work.
The shutout loss overshadowed a good performance by Fordham starter
Anthony DiMeglio, who threw his first career complete game. He tossed a career-long eight innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
At the plate for Fordham,
Reiss Knehr was 2-for-3 with a stolen base, while
Alvin Melendez,
Justin Bardwell, Tarabek, and Vazquez each had one hit.
