Fairfax, Va.—The George Mason softball team shutout Rider University by a score of 4-0 Friday afternoon to kick off this weekend's Patriot Classic at the George Mason Softball Complex.

The Patriots wasted no time getting on the board, scoring in the first inning.  Alyssa See drew a walk with one out.  After another out, Rachael Davies stepped up by hitting a two out single to center field to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.

Mason extended their lead in the second when Stephanie Strother went to steal third base on an errant throw into left field by Rider catcher Samantha Pugh.  Megan Blank , who was at the plate and had drawn a walk with a 3-2 count, showed great anticipation and advanced to second on the relay into the infield.  Blank was a nightmare on the bases for Rider as she later stole two bases in the fourth.

After the Patriots went scoreless in the bottom of the third, Blank hit an RBI single to center field to score Reagan Doiron , who had singled to lead off the inning, giving the Patriots a 3-0 advantage.

Mason got further insurance in the sixth.  With runners at first and third, pinch runner Brooke Tickle broke for second and Pugh's throw got away again and into center, allowing Doiron to score from third, increasing the lead to 4-0.

Mason starter Kelsey Byrd had a superb outing on the mound, throwing seven shutout innings, scattering seven hits, walking none, and striking out six to notch her second win of the year.

The win puts the Patriots record at 4-3 and Rider drops to 0-5.  The teams will face each other again tomorrow at 12:15.  Rider will then play Cornell at 1:30 and the Patriots will cap off the day with their matinee against Cornell at 4:30.