WHO: Softball vs. UT-Martin @ Stetson Classic

WHERE: DeLand, Fla.

FINAL SCORE: UT-Martin 2, Mason 1

KEY PLAYERS: McKenzie Jones, 2-3, 1R, Casey Price, 0-2, 1BB, 1RBI, Sarah Kleinfelter, CG, 3 K's, 1ER

WHO: Softball vs. Wagner @ Stetson Classic

WHERE: DeLand, Fla.

FINAL SCORE:  Mason 2, Wagner 1

KEY PLAYERS: Julia Czarnecki 2-4, 2R, Erin Calpin 2-3, 1R, 2RBI, Jess Middleton 1-3 1R, 1BB

Fairfax, Va. – George Mason University's softball team salvaged the first day of the Stetson Classic with a win over Wagner, 6-2. The Patriots dropped the first game of the day to UT-Martin, 2-1, but persevered and came back motivated to win in their final game of the day.

Mason started the game against the UT-Martin Seahawks quickly when outfielder McKenzie Jones bunted for a single and stole second base with one out in the first. Jones advanced to third on the stolen base when the throw from the catcher was errant. Outfielder Casey Price then grounded out but was able to score Jones putting the Patriots up, 1-0.

Despite scoring the initial run, Mason was never able to put together anything after that point and only managed two hits for the remainder of the game. Senior pitcher Sarah Kleinfelter kept Mason in the contest with another solid outing. Kleinfelter allowed one earned run over six innings pitched and only gave up five hits scattered throughout the game.

After leaving one on in the first, the Patriots would leave three on base the rest of the way, once in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

Mason would not let game one discourage them and they took out their frustration on Wagner early. After a leadoff single followed by a walk, sophomore shortstop Liz Seymour got the Patriots on the board with an RBI double to left-center scoring outfielder Julia Czarnecki. Jones, who earlier walked, would come around to score when the Seahawks were unable to cleanly retire freshman first baseman Samantha Zaccari, putting Mason up, 2-0.

After another scoreless inning pitched by freshman Gabriella Lopez, the Patriots once again got a leadoff single, this time courtesy of freshman third baseman Erin Calpin. After Czarnecki reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base, the Seahawks hurt themselves for the second consecutive inning with an error.

Calpin and Czarnecki scored when Seymour hit the ball in play and reached on the second error made by Wagner's first baseman in the game. The Patriots would eventually load the bases with two outs of the inning but a pop out foiled Mason's attempt to put the game out of reach.

Wagner would show some resistance in the third and fourth innings scoring a run apiece in addition to chasing Lopez from the game with two away in the fourth. Freshman pitcher Marina Vitalich entered and promtply stranded Seahawks on second and third when she induced an inning ending pop out.

The Patriots would add two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to timely hitting from Calpin. After Price was thrown out at home for the second out of the inning, Calpin smacked a single to right that scored designated hitter Jess Middleton and Zaccari.

Vitalich would only allow two hits and retired the first seven batters she faced. Facing Wagner's best power hitter in the bottom of the seventh with two on and two out, Vitalich showed aplomb getting the Seahawk to fly out to right field.

STAT BREAKDOWN

-Both Kleinfelter and UT-Martin's Alyssa Vanlandingha pitched complete games and both had to pitch with an unearned run.

-Mason only struck out four times in the two games played Friday.

-Jones was the only Patriot to earn a hit against UT-Martin, tallying both of Mason's hits in the game.

-Czarnecki, Seymour, Price and Calpin all had two hits each against Wagner.

NEXT ON THE DIAMOND

The Patriots remain in Florida and take on Stetson Classic host, Stetson, tomorrow at 11 a.m.