AMHERST, Mass. – The #4 George Mason softball team defeated #5 La Salle 2-1 in the opening game of the A-10 Championship.  The Patriots now move on to take on the top overall seed, Dayton, tomorrow at noon.

La Salle got things going in the first inning after Christina Bascara hit a solo homerun to right center to take a 1-0 lead.  However, in the bottom half of the inning, the Patriots were able to tie up the game.  Senior Mary O'Connor doubled down the left field line to get into scoring position.  Freshman Liz Seymour then smacked an RBI single up the middle to score the Patriots run. 

After a scoreless second inning, McKenzie Jones started off the bottom of the third with walk.  O' Connor followed up the walk with a bunt single, right before Seymour reached on an error to load the bases.  Senior Brooke Blankenship then hit a single into center field to take a 2-1 lead. 

The rest of the game was a pitching duel between Casey Herring and McKenzie Peace.  In the top of the seventh, the Explorers had a runner in scoring position and just one out.  On the next play, Sarah Solano made a diving catch in right field and then threw out the runner at second to win the game for Mason.

Herring pitched an outstanding complete game to pick up the win for the Patriots.  The victory comes in the first A-10 Championship appearance for the Green and Gold.  With the win, the Patriots move on to face Dayton tomorrow at noon.  This will be the first meeting between the Patriots and the Flyers this season.