Fairfax, Va.  - The George Mason softball team handed Hofstra their first conference loss in the final game of a three game series by the score of 6-2.  Mason used a big four run inning in the fourth to record their second conference victory improving to 2-7 in the CAA and 12-19 overall.  Hofstra fell to 8-1 in the CAA and 25-9 overall.

The Patriots did not record their first hit until the fourth inning when Megan Blank dropped down a bunt single to third.  It was her third hit against Olivia Galati in the series and those were the only hits Galati had given up to that point.  Tori Dudley followed with an RBI double to left center that gave Mason its first lead of the series.  After two outs Emily Lafferty brought Dudley home from second with an RBI single to right field advancing to second on the throw.  Kaila Conlon came up with another RBI double and Katie Rynex hit an RBI single down the left field line to score her from second.  Galati finally got Tiffany Web to ground out ending the inning with a 4-0 Mason lead.

Hofstra cut the lead in the sixth inning to 1-4 after a double and two singles in the inning, but Stephanie Maher was able to get out of trouble giving up just the one run. 

Mason added to their lead after Rynex hit an RBI single up the middle after a walk and a hit by pitch that started the inning.  Tiffany Webb followed with an RBI double that brought Mason's lead to 6-1.    

The Pride made things interesting in the seventh inning getting the first three batters on base to load the bases.  A sacrifice fly led to one run in the inning, but Maher was able to record the next two outs and hold down the win.    

Stephanie Maher retired the first seven batters before Krista Thorn dropped down a bunt single to break that streak up in the third.  She finished the day pitching a complete game, allowing six hits, two runs (one earned), and one walk while striking out two batters.  It was her team-leading sixth win of the year.

Megan Blank finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and Katie Rynex went 2-for-3 with two RBI.  Emily Lafferty was 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in the game.  Webb, Conlon and Dudley all each recorded one double.     

Mason will return to action Wednesday, April 13 when they host George Washington in a nonconference game.  That game is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.