AP Sports Preview

FAIRFAX, Va. (Interstat) — George Mason hosts La Salle in a non-conference baseball game Saturday at Spuhler Field, with first pitch set for the afternoon. The Patriots (26-24) enter with momentum after a 10-4 win over the Explorers (24-30) on Friday, their second straight victory in the series following a 17-5 rout Thursday.

George Mason’s Jake Drumm, who earned the win Friday with four innings of one-hit, scoreless relief while striking out three, is a key arm to watch. The right-hander has been sharp of late, allowing just one earned run over his last nine innings across two appearances, including five scoreless frames at Dayton on May 9. Drumm’s season includes a six-inning, two-run outing against George Washington on May 2.

La Salle will counter with Jace Terry, who also pitched Friday – but for the Explorers. Terry absorbed the loss, giving up one earned run on zero hits over 3 2/3 innings, striking out three. The right-hander has been inconsistent; in his prior outing May 10 against Saint Bonaventure, he allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings, though he earned a win. Terry’s best recent start came May 2 at Dayton, where he threw three hitless innings but surrendered four earned runs.

The Explorers are looking to snap a two-game skid and have lost six of their last seven. Their most recent win came May 10, a 10-8 decision over Saint Bonaventure. La Salle’s offense has been productive – they scored 18 runs in a win over the Bonnies on May 8 – but pitching has been a concern. Friday’s loss saw the bullpen allow seven runs after Terry’s departure.

George Mason has won three of four overall. The Patriots’ lineup features Jake Butler, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI on Friday. Their pitching staff has been effective, holding La Salle to four runs in each of the last two games.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is George Mason 7, La Salle 6. Interstat’s ELO system gives the Patriots a 65.20 percent probability to win.

Weather at game time is forecast to be clear, 64 degrees Fahrenheit.

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