WHO: Softball vs. Bethune-Cookman
WHERE: Daytona Beach, Fla.
FINAL SCORE: Bethune-Cookman 8, Mason 1
KEY PLAYERS: Liz Seymour 1-4, 1R, Casey Price, 2-3, 1RBI,

WHO: Softball vs. Bethune-Cookman

WHERE: Daytona Beach, Fla.
FINAL SCORE:  Bethune-Cookman 3, Mason 2
KEY PLAYERS: Samantha Zaccari 1-3, 1R, 1RBI, Brooke Sullivan 1-3, 1RBI, Marina Vitalich 6IP, 3ER, 4 K's

Fairfax, Va. – The George Mason University softball team was unable to pick up a win during a double-header matchup against Bethune-Cookman Wednesday, losing, 8-1 and 3-2.

Mason had strong efforts from senior centerfielder Casey Price and sophomore shortstop Liz Seymour in game one, before relying on freshman Samantha Zaccari, sophomore catcher Brooke Sullivan and freshman pitcher Marina Vitalich in game two.

Mason started the first game strong with a Seymour single to left field. Seymour then advanced to second on a well executed sacrifice bunt by senior left fielder Julia Czarnecki. The Patriots would then score on Price's RBI double and give Mason an early lead, 1-0.

Mason  would not cross the plate for the rest of the game despite out-hitting Bethune-Cookman 6-5. Although the team gave up two runs in the bottom of the second, Mason's true downfall came in the fifth inning.

After giving up a leadoff homerun, the Patriots committed an error, a wild pitch was thrown advancing the runner into scoring position and an RBI single put the Wildcats ahead 4-0. Freshman pitcher Gabriella Lopez pitched well only allowing one earned run in the game, but was replaced after the RBI single.

In both innings the Wildcats scored, the Patriots committed errors, which ultimately sealed their fate in game one.

In game two, the Wildcats used the momentum gained earlier in the day to get out to an early 3-0 lead. It took Mason until the fourth inning to really threaten but were eventually foiled.

Czarnecki followed up Seymour's leadoff single with a single of her own and after a fielding error on the pitcher, the Patriots were in business with the bases loaded. Mason would proceed to strike out, line out and hit into a fielder's choice that halted the rally.

Vitalich only really struggled in the Wildcats three-run-third. The freshman pitched a complete game, struck out four and worked her way out of a few jams as she stranded seven Bethune-Cookman base-runners.

The Patriots' best opportunity to tie the game or take the lead occurred in the sixth inning after a Czarnecki lead-off triple started the inning positively. However, Czarnecki was out at the plate after Price hit a ball to the first baseman who wisely chose to throw home, catching the lead runner trying to score.

Back to back doubles by Zaccari and Sullivan yielded the two Mason runs in the inning. The Wildcats then made a pitching change which allowed the team to retire the two final batters of the inning,

The Patriots could not get anything going in the top of the seventh and the Wildcats held on for their fifth win of the season. 

STAT BREAKDOWN

-Since starting the season 0-12 in Florida, Seymour has been on a tear at the plate going 16-33 in Mason's last seven games, including a .466 batting average in Florida this time around.

-Mason registered five errors in game one as opposed to zero errors in game two against Bethune-Cookman.

-Despite giving up eight runs to the Wildcats in game one, only one of Bethune-Cookman's runs were earned.

-Vitalich leads the team in ERA with a 3.77 mark, strike outs with 33 and saves with one.

NEXT ON THE DIAMOND

The Patriots remain in Florida and take on Tennessee-Martin in the Stetson Classic, Friday, March 11 at 11:00 a.m.