FAIRFAX, Virginia – The George Mason softball team lost a tough game on Senior Day against A-10 opponent Dayton 12-5.  The loss takes the Patriots to 21-18 with a 5-7 conference record, while Dayton improves to 22-26 with a 6-8 conference record.  The Patriots lost its first game against the Flyers yesterday 5-3.

The Patriots got off to a good start, opening the game with four runs in the first inning.  After a Julia Czarnecki single, Brooke Blankenship hit a double to left center to pick up the RBI.  With Casey Price and Angela Maioran on base, Cori Prince hit a triple through the left side to score two more runs.  At the end of the first inning, the Patriots led 4-0. 

After the Flyers scored a run in the second inning, the Patriots came right back at them and got another run as well.  After a Mary O'Connor single, senior Tiffany Webb brought the runner home to take the lead to 5-1 at the end of the second inning. 

The Flyers mounted a huge comeback in the fifth inning after trailing for the entire game.  Dayton ended up scoring 10 runs in the inning thanks in part to Gabrielle Snyder and Tiffany Ricks triples.

Anna Blessing got the start on her senior day and pitched 4.1 innings.  Blessing gave up just four hits and one earned run.  Another senior, Stephanie Maher also pitched 2.1 innings in relief and gave up just one hit and no runs.

Prince, O'Connor, Price, Maioran, and Czarnecki each picked up a hit for the Patroits.  Blankenship picked up two doubles and an RBI for the Green and Gold. 

Kathryn Hess, Tiffany Ricks, and Gabrielle Snyder led the Flyers on offense with two RBI each in the game.  Meanwhile, Kayla English got the start for Dayton and pitched 1.1 inning, giving up five runs.  Lyndsey Diggs picked up the win for the Flyers despite only pitching two-thirds of an inning.

Up Next: The Patriots host another A-10 opponent, Saint Louis tomorrow for an afternoon doubleheader.  The first game is set to start at noon.