Wilmington, N.C.--The George Mason softball team opened CAA play in stellar fashion, as they beat UNCW 2-0 and 8-3 in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

The Patriots used a balanced offensive attack and prolific pitching to hold UNCW to three runs and 11 hits combined in both games.

In the first game, Stephanie Maher pitched a complete game shutout, giving up no runs, allowing six hits, and striking out three.  Senior Alyssa See lead the game off by getting hit by a pitch.  See then stole second and was driven in by junior Emily Lafferty.  The Patriots then scrapped and played small ball to get some insurance in the fourth inning.  Senior Rachel Davies led off with a single.  Fellow senior Katie Rynex then bunted over the pinch runner Tiffany Webb to second.  Webb took third on a groundout to second and then scored on an error.

In the second game, the Patriot offense used the long ball to pave its way to victory.  Freshman Brooke Blankenship and Rachel Davies both homered, their third and first of the season respectively.  Blankenship went 3-for-4 in the game with an RBI, and two runs scored, falling a triple short of the cycle.  Lafferty also contributed two more hits to cap off a strong day.  Freshman Casey Herring pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs off three hits, while striking out one.  Senior Miranda Cranford finished the game off for the Patriots going two innings, allowing one earned run on two hits, while also striking out one.

With the two wins, Mason improves to 8-21 overall on the season and 2-0 in conference play.  The team will wrap up the series Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled at noon.