WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Brett Stallings lifted a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to plate the winning run as George Mason eliminated Maryland 11-10 in the Winston-Salem Regional on Sunday.
Maryland was routed by No. 1 Wake Forest 21-6 on Saturday to land in Sunday’s elimination round. George Mason advances to face the Demon Deacons later Sunday. Wake Forest needs one win to earn a berth in the Super Regional; the Patriots would need to win Sunday and again Monday to advance.
David Falco Jr. hit Jordan Smith with a pitch to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Smith stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Maryland catcher. Falco then intentionally walked Connor Dykstra and Reece Woody to load the bases for Stallings, who lifted a fly to right field that was deep enough to allow Smith to scamper home for the win.
Maryland’s Matt Woods tied the game at 10 with a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
Falco (4-1) came on to get the final four outs for Maryland and was charged with three walks, two of them intentional, and took the loss.
Owen Stewart came on in the fourth inning and worked 5 ⅓ innings for the Patriots, allowing just two earned runs on Wood’s homer and striking out four. Kyle Smith (2-0) came in to get the final out in the ninth and was credited with the win.
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