Fairfax, Va. - The George Mason softball team hosts the Delaware Blue Hens over the weekend in a three games series that will mark the beginning of conference play.  There will be a doubleheader on Saturday with the first game starting at noon and another game on Sunday that will also start at noon.  Games will be played at the George Mason Softball Complex.  Live audio will be available for both games on Saturday.     

The Patriots are coming off two loses to Utah on Tuesday in which they were shutout in both games.  They have now been a part of five straight shutouts starting with a 6-0 win over Albany, but ended up on the wrong end of four straight losses in shutouts.  Delaware comes in with a 7-17 record having lost six straight games including a 1-8 defeat at Delaware State on Tuesday.

Kelsey Byrd was named the CAA Rookie of the Week for her performance in last week's games.  Byrd put together a 1-1 record in the circle for the Patriots en route to a 1.49 ERA. The freshman appeared in three games for The Patriots last week and started in two of them. Her start against Albany included a complete game shutout which was her one win during the week. She tossed a no-hitter up until the sixth inning against the Great Danes until a bloop single broke it up. Byrd pitched a combined 14.1 innings allowing nine hits, three earned runs and walked five, while striking out seven batters.  

After this weekend series with Delaware the Patriots will host Georgetown in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 30.  The first game is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. with the second game coming after the completion of the first.