FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (12-18, 5-4) defeated St. Joe's 6-5 to take the conference series two games to one. The Patriots fell in the first game yesterday 7-4 before beating the Hawks 4-2 in the second game. Coming into this series, St. Joe's (20-9, 6-2) was undefeated in conference play.
The Patriots jumped out to an early lead in the final game, scoring three runs in the first inning after four straight singles. With runners on the corners, Casey Price hit a single to left field and both runners were able to score after a fielding error on St. Joe's. Earlier in the inning, freshman Liz Seymour hit a single to score Mary O'Connor.
The Hawks and the Patriots each scored a run in the second inning to take the score to 4-1. With the bases loaded, Casey Price walked to score the lone Patriot run of the inning. St. Joe's tacked on one run in the fourth inning and then two runs in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead, heading into the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, O'Connor hit a bunt single that saw Sarah Solano score from second base to tie the game at 5-5. Right after that, Seymour hit a RBI double to left center to score the game-winning run. Casey Herring retired the side in the top of the seventh inning to finish the game in the Patriots favor, 6-5.
Herring pitched a complete game and finished with six strikeouts to pick up her sixth win of the season. Nikki Alden led the Hawks with two RBI in the game. Madison Clarke and Anna Lauterbach both pitched for St. Joe's.
The Green and Gold hit the road to take on George Washington in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 8. After GW, the Patriots will stay on the road as they travel for games against St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island and Mount St. Mary's.
