Spartanburg, S.C. – Anthony Montefusco and Mark Maksimow combined to throw nine scoreless innings as George Mason posted a 7-0 victory over the USC Upstate baseball team Saturday evening from Harley Park.

Montefusco scattered three hits over five innings and struck out three en route to his first victory of the season. Maksimow pitched the final four innings and struck out four while limiting Upstate to three hits.

Dylan Parker (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on six hits. The West Columbia, S.C., native walked three and struck out five in his Upstate debut.

George Mason (2-0) erupted for four runs in the top of the third inning to take an early 4-0 lead. Brandon Gum led off the inning with a single to second base and took third when Chris Cook followed with a single up the middle. After a strikeout and a walk, Tucker Tobin plated Gum from third with a single to left field.

Blaise Fernandez followed with a bases loaded walk to drive in Cook to put the Patriots ahead 2-0. Jayme Murray connected two batters later for a two-run single to center field to drive in both Tobin and Luke Willis.

The Patriots tacked on another run in the top of the fifth when Montefusco doubled down the left field line to drive in Fernandez from first. Cook laced a two-out solo home run down the right field line in top of the sixth to give George Mason a 6-0 lead.

George Mason scored its final run of the game in the eighth inning after Murray scampered home on a wild pitch.

Upstate catcher Drew Fisher went 2-for-3, while Zack Krider, AJ Mackey, Erik Samples and Stephen Dowling each had one hit.

Upstate returns to action Sunday morning at 11 .m. when the Spartans host Dayton from Harley Park.

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