FAIRFAX, Va. (Interstat) — George Mason defeated La Salle 8-7 on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field, rallying from an early deficit and holding off a late Explorers charge. The Patriots improved to 27-24 while La Salle fell to 24-31.

George Mason struck first in the bottom of the first inning, with shortstop Owen Clyne driving in a run on a single and later scoring on a Luciano Terilli two-run single to take a 3-0 lead. The Patriots added three more in the second, including Clyne’s two-run homer to make it 6-0.

La Salle answered in the fourth when Jayden Novak walked with the bases loaded to cut the lead to 7-6. George Mason regained the lead in the bottom half on a Lucas Alberti single. La Salle’s Alec Welshans homered in the fifth to tie the game 7-7, but George Mason took the lead for good in the sixth on a Chase Swain single. The Explorers managed a run in the ninth on a Rueben Livingston single but could not complete the comeback.

Clyne finished with three hits and four RBIs. Welshans drove in two runs for La Salle.