FAIRFAX, Va. - The Patriots fell twice in a doubleheader to James Madison in front of a packed house at the Mason Softball Complex on Saturday, losing the first game 4-1 and the second game 9-2.

In the first game, JMU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a two run home run to left field by Ashley Burnham.  After three more scoreless innings, the Dukes scored another two runs in the top of the seventh inning when Anna Klump hit an infield single that Mason could not handle.  The Patriots responded with one run in the bottom of the seventh inning when freshman Tori Rodriguez drove in fellow freshman Cori Prince scored after she entered the game to pinch run for Rachael Davies, who walked.  Unfortunately the seventh inning run was not enough to rally the Patriots, as they lost the first game of the doubleheader.

In the second game, Madison once again jumped out to an early lead by scoring two runs in the top of the second inning.  The Patriots were able to respond in the bottom half of the inning when senior left fielder drew a walk with the bases loaded, scoring pinch runner Mary O'Connor.  The biggest inning of the day came from the Dukes who were able to score five total runs off relief pitchers Tiffany Harvell and Jamie Rice in the top of the fifth inning, which was enough to secure the game for the Dukes.  The Patriots added one run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Megan Blank hit an RBI double to right centerfield scoring freshman second baseman Brooke Blankenship who also doubled in the inning.  In the top of the seventh inning, the Dukes added the final two runs to the scoreboard to increase their lead to 9-2 and solidify the two-game sweep.

Mason will now shift their focus to the final game of the series on Sunday.  The game is scheduled for 12 noon.