FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team split a series against Towson today, falling 1-0 in the first game and winning 3-0 in the second game.  The Patriots most recently went 1-2 overall in Saint Louis this past weekend.

The first game was a pitching duel between Mason and Towson.  Christina Gabriele got the start in the circle for the Patriots and ended up pitching 4.2 innings giving up just four hits and one run.  Sarah Kleinfelter pitched the final 2.1 innings and gave up just two hits.

Missy McCormick got the start for Towson and pitched a complete-game shutout, giving up just four hits.  Towson was able to get the lone run of the game in the first inning after a bases-loaded walk for McCormick.  Brooke Blankenship was able to pick up two of the Patriots four hits in the game, but the Tigers went on to win 1-0.

The Patriots jumped out to an early lead in the first inning after Brooke Blankenship hit a two-RBI triple down the left field line to take a 2-0 lead in game two.  Casey Price then hit a sac fly to score Blankenship from third and pick up an RBI.  With a 3-0 advantage, it was up to the Patriots pitching staff to finish off the game, which is exactly what they did. 

Sarah Kleinfelter got the start in the circle for Mason and pitched 2.1 hitless innings.  Casey Herring pitched in relief and gave up just five hits and no runs in the final 4.2 innings.  The Patriots went on to take the second game of the series 3-0.

Mason hosts St. Joe's for a doubleheader on Friday starting at 3 p.m. and then for another game on Saturday at 12 p.m.