SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Patriots fell in the first game of the University of South Carolina Upstate Tournament to Howard University by a score of 7-4 on Friday afternoon.  Mason has had a slow start to the season and with the loss, now drops to 1-4 so far this year.

The Bison were able to jump on top of sophomore starting pitcher Stephanie Maher early in the first inning, scoring four runs, one of which was unearned.  Howard scored again in the third inning off a two out RBI double to left field by the left fielder Moore-Pryor.

Mason was able to get that run back in the fifth inning when pinch hitter Kaila Conlon scored off a single from freshman second baseman Brooke Blankenship.

However, in the top of the seventh, the Bison added two more runs to increase the lead to 7-1.  Mason fought back in the bottom of the seventh.  Blankenship hit a double to right center field, scoring freshman Cori Prince and junior Samantha Barney, increasing her RBI total to three on the afternoon.   Mary O'Connor, who came in to play shortstop replacing Rachael Davies, hit a two out single to drive in Blankenship for Mason's fourth run of the game.

Unfortunately, the seventh inning rally was not enough to overcome some of the early game mistakes.  The Patriots will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 9am against