Box Score FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Stevenson baseball could not capitalize on a strong start, dropping a 7-4 nonconference contest to Mary Washington on Friday at V. Earl Dickinson Stadium.
Stevenson (1-5-1) got two hits each from Trevor Smoot and Kyle Fratesi, while Matt Kossey tossed five innings on the mound. Mary Washington (2-1) scored six of its last seven runs over the team's final three trips to the plate.
UMW starter Brendan McComber fired 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts for the Eagles, while Nick Ciuffreda, Andrew Gerhart and Xavier Herring added two knocks apiece.
The Mustangs pushed across a pair of runs in their first trip to the plate for the early 2-0 advantage. Early base knocks from Brandon Perillo and Kevin Carricato put two runners on before Tommy Holcomb was plunked with a pitch to load the bases. Trevor Smoot reached on a fielder's choice with a groundout to the infield as Perillo crossed the plate. The next batter, Fratesi ripped a single to center as Carricato raced home for a 2-0 Mustang edge.
The Eagles sliced the lead in half with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the second, but the Mustangs got that run right back in the third. With two outs, Holcomb drew a walk and moved to second on a single from Trevor Smoot. Fratesi plated Holcomb with his second run-scoring knock of the afternoon to move Stevenson ahead at 3-1.
Holcomb has reached base in six of the first seven games for the Mustangs.
Kossey whirled scoreless frames over the third, fourth and fifth with three punchouts over that stretch. UMW eventually found its rhythm at the plate in the home half of the sixth inning, bringing home four runs with a pair of two-run hits to lead 5-1. Patrick O'Farrell entered the game in relief during the sixth inning, registering two quick outs that included a quick relay home from Amani Jones to Smoot for the second out of the frame.
Alex Russo scored on an error as Stevenson trailed by just one run at 5-4. UMW tacked on single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to pull ahead with the final 7-4 count. Malcolm Edelin came on to pitch the final inning for Stevenson, surrendering two hits with a strikeout.
The Mustangs continue their weekend in Fredericksburg with a neutral site matchup against Washington (Md.) on Saturday, February 26 at 2:15 p.m. from Dickinson Stadium.
