FAIRFAX, Va. (Interstat) — Owen Clyne homered and drove in three runs, leading George Mason to an 8-7 victory over La Salle on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.

The Patriots completed a three-game sweep of the Explorers, improving to 27-24 overall. La Salle fell to 24-31.

George Mason jumped out to a 7-0 lead by the end of the third inning, capitalizing on a pair of unearned runs in the second. Clyne’s two-run homer in the second inning highlighted the early outburst, and Julius Bagnerise added a run-scoring single in the third.

La Salle chipped away with one run in the fourth on Jayden Novak’s bases-loaded walk, then pulled within 7-3 in the fifth when Alec Welshans crushed a two-run homer to left field.

The Patriots answered in the bottom of the fourth, with Lucas Alberti delivering a run-scoring single that brought home Clyne, restoring a five-run lead at 8-3. That run proved critical.

The Explorers mounted a rally in the sixth. Chase Swain singled in a run, Justin Szestowicki followed with an RBI single and Carter Groen added a run-scoring single, cutting the deficit to 8-6. But George Mason reliever Shaun Okeeffe retired the next two batters to escape further damage.

In the ninth, La Salle again threatened. Rueben Livingston singled to right field, scoring Welshans to make it 8-7. Kosei Suzuki then singled, putting runners on the corners with one out. Parker Thomas entered and struck out Novak to end the game, earning his first save.

Clyne finished 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs. Alberti went 3 for 4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Jackson Morse added two hits and an RBI, and Luciano Terilli drove in two runs.

For La Salle, Welshans was 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBIs. Szestowicki had two hits and an RBI, and Swain recorded two hits and an RBI.

George Mason starter Aiden Parker worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out three. La Salle’s Josh Beck tossed four hitless innings of relief, striking out one.

The game featured six errors, three by each team, and La Salle pitchers threw five wild pitches.

The series marked the third straight contest between the two teams. George Mason won 10-4 on Friday and 17-5 on Thursday. The Patriots have won five of their last six games, while La Salle has lost four in a row.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of George Mason 7, La Salle 6, and the Interstat ELO system gave George Mason a 65.20 percent probability to win.