March 4, 2005

Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University's softball team (3-7) will host Cornell (0-0) and Syracuse (4-2) at the Patriot Classic on March 5-6 at George Mason Field for the Patriots first competition at home this season.

Mason has won its past two games, including a 6-0 shut-out over Villanova at the Dixie Classic in Virginia Beach, Va. on Feb. 27, which was followed by a 5-2 win over Norfolk State the same day.

Sophomore pitcher Megan Farrell leads the Patriots in batting average (.267) after playing in all 10 games and also owns a 2-1 record on the mound thus far this season. Farrell has also amassed a team-leading eight hits, as well as four RBI. For her efforts at the Dixie Classic this past weekend, Farrell earned Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 1. Freshman Kristen Dickel has connected on a team-leading two doubles, has scored two runs and also is tied with a team fourth-best four runs

Despite not playing since Feb. 20, the Orange continued to receive votes in this week's national polls. SU's last competition was a 10-3 victory versus South Carolina in the championship game of the Sunshine State Tournament hosted by Florida State.

Freshman Chanel Roehner leads the team in hitting with a .350 batting average. She has three doubles, a home run, and has knocked in four runs. Senior Shawna Norris is also hitting above .300 at .333. Sophomore Courtney Mosch is batting .294 with a team-leading two home runs, while junior Alexis Switenko has six RBI, including a school-record five in the win against the Gamecocks.

This will be the first game of the 2005 campaign for Ivy-league member, Cornell.

The Patriots will play at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on both days, while Cornell and Syracuse will face-off against one another at 9 a.m. each day.