FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (19-24, 11-9) fell to La Salle (13-15, 9-6) in the final game of the conference series.  The Patriots fell 10-2 today after splitting the first two games yesterday.

Mason jumped out to an early lead in the first inning after Casey Price hit an RBI single to score Brooke Blankenship from second base.  However, La Salle tacked on three runs in the next inning thanks in part to a Mackenzie Obert two-RBI double.  Mason cut the lead down to just one in the bottom half of the inning after a Mary O'Connor RBI bunt single. 

The Explorers kept finding success at the plate as they added two more runs in the top of the third inning after an Alicia Aughton two-run homerun to left field.  Then in the fourth inning, La Salle scored three more runs to take an 8-2 lead over the Patriots.  The Explorers kept the momentum going and added two runs in the sixth inning to make it 10-2.

Mason couldn't respond in the bottom of the sixth as they eventually fell to La Salle 10-2 in six innings.  Casey Herring, Christina Gabriele and Sarah Kleinfelter each pitched in the game for Mason.  Blankenship was the only Patriot to finish the game with multiple hits. 

Mary Cate Scott earned the win in the circle for the Explorers as she pitched 4.2 innings and gave up no earned runs.  Alicia Aughton had a big day for La Salle and contributed six RBI on three hits to lead the team.

Up next, the Patriots host Norfolk State for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, starting at 3 p.m.