PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle University baseball team fell to the George Mason Patriots, 9-2, in Atlantic 10 action on Friday from Hank DeVincent Field.

The Explorers struck first and led 1-0 after four innings, but the Patriots scored runs in each of the final five innings to run away with the victory.

La Salle jumped on top in the fourth when senior Brian Dudeck hit an infield single and advanced on a throwing error, allowing junior Ben Faso to score the game's first run.

George Mason tied it at 1-1 in the fifth inning before working four runs on four hits and two errors in the sixth inning, putting the Patriots up 5-1.

Faso, sophomore Ryan Guckin and junior Kevin McGowan each singled in the bottom of the sixth to load the bases for senior Chase Arnold, who drew a walk to bring home Faso, cutting the deficit to three. But that was all the Explorers could manage with the bases full.

The Patriots then pulled away behind solo home runs from Greg Popatak and Frank Sturek in the seventh and eighth frames before adding two more in the ninth.

Eight different Explorers had a hit in the contest. Faso scored both of La Salle's runs and went 1-for-2 with a walk. The hit for Faso put him into sole possession of sixth place on the program's single season hits list with 74 on the year.

La Salle will conclude its 2018 season with Senior Day on Saturday, as the two teams will finish their three-game series, with first pitch set for 1 p.m., weather permitting. Seniors Austin Constantini, Yan Carlo Rivera, Arnold, Dudeck, Rafael Amanau and Greg Paprocki will be recognized.