WHO: Softball vs. Army @ Patriot Classic
WHERE: Fairfax, Va.
FINAL SCORE: Army 4, Mason 3
KEY PLAYERS: Liz Seymour 2-3, 1R, Casey Price 1-4 2 RBI, Brooke Sullivan 1-2, 1R, 1RBI, Sarah Kleinfelter, CG, 4H, 3ER, 3K's

WHO: Softball vs. Marist @ Patriot Classic
WHERE: Fairfax, Va.
FINAL SCORE:  Mason 5, Marist 4
KEY PLAYERS: Katie Kitts 2-3, 1R, 1RBI, Julia Czarnecki 2-4, 1RBI, Brooke Sullivan, 2-3, 1R, Gabriella Lopez 6IP, 6H, 4ER

Fairfax, Va. – The George Mason University softball team split their two matchups on day two of the Patriot Classic. The Patriots lost their first game to Army, 4-3, but were able to win against Marist, 5-4 in dramatic fashion.

In the first inning against Army, Mason almost turned a rare triple play. With runners on the corners, senior pitcher Sarah Kleinfelter snagged a line-drive comebacker for the first out, tossed the ball to first, doubling-up the runner who had left the bag early for the second out, and junior first baseman Heather Ferguson threw home to try and get the lead runner at the plate. It would have been an extremely close play at the plate but the throw was slightly awry allowing the Black Knights to notch the first run of the game.

Both Army and Mason would go quiet at the plate due to suburb pitching until the top of the fifth inning, when the Black Knights would strike again. Facing a 2-0 deficit, the Patriots were finally able to break through thanks to a massive triple by senior outfielder Casey Price.

With a leadoff single by junior third baseman McKenzie Jones and a walk by sophomore shortstop Liz Seymour to set the table, Price stepped up to the plate and cranked the ball to the gap in deep right-center field scoring both Patriots already on base. Price wouldn't have to wait long until she herself crossed home plate, as sophomore catcher Brooke Sullivan calmly knocked in Mason's third run of the inning with an RBI single.

However, the Patriots lead would not last. In the top of the seventh inning, the Black Knights scored the eventual game-winning run on an two out, two RBI single that foiled Kleinfelter's pursuit of a complete game victory. Mason had an opportunity in the bottom half of the inning but Army made a pitching change that stifled the Patriots and prevented a second Mason rally.

Despite the hard fought loss, the Patriots were unfazed as they began their second game of the day against Marist. Freshman starting pitcher Gabriella Lopez set the tone early, pitching three scoreless innings to keep the Red Foxes' hitters at bay. Mason threatened in the first inning as senior outfielder Julia Czarnecki singled, stole second and advanced to third but was left stranded by Sullivan, who grounded out to the second baseman, ending the inning

For the second straight game, the Patriots needed the opposition to score first to really light a fire under them. Trailing by one in the bottom of the fourth, Mason put together two straight singles and would even the game at one on an error by Marist's pitcher. Not quite finished, the Patriots earned another run on a freshman first baseman Samantha Zaccari's sacrifice fly.

Mason's lead would hold until sixth inning before the Red Foxes broke through again and plated two runs, moving back ahead by the score of 3-2. With the momentum clearly on Marist's side, Mason stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the sixth ready to write an alternate ending to what some believed would be a tragedy for the Patriots.

Mason scored three runs as Sullivan, senior catcher Katie Kitts, freshman third baseman Erin Calpin and Czarnecki all were to thank for pivotal singles in the inning. Sullivan's single led off the inning, Kitts' single drove in Jones, Calpin's single scored senior pinch runner Breanna Boyd and last but certainly not least, Czarnecki's single drove in Kitts who represented the game winning run.

The drama would continue in the top of the seventh as Lopez tried to keep Marist from getting back in the game, down 5-3. In her first career home start, the freshman pitched like a true veteran but tired slightly in the final half inning making manager Joe Verbanic call on another freshman, Marina Vitalich, to close the game.

Vitalich showed aplomb as she dispatched three of the final four batters of the game, giving the Patriots an impressive victory over the now, 6-2 Red Foxes.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT

“It was a confidence booster, but I really couldn't have done it without my teammates behind me.” – Gabriella Lopez on her first career home start for Mason.

STAT BREAKDOWN

-On to relieve Lopez, Vitalich earned the Patriots first save of the season, her first save of the season and her first career save as a Patriot.

-In both games played, Mason led the opposition in hits, smacking seven compared to Army's four and earning eight compared to Marist's six.

-Mason only scored runs in three out of 13 innings they batted, yet made the most of their opportunities scoring two runs once and three runs twice.

NEXT ON THE DIAMOND

The Patriots will get another crack at Army at 11:15 a.m. before finishing the Patriot Classic against Howard at 3:30 p.m. With a victory against Army, Mason will have defeated each team competing in the Classic.