WHO: Softball vs La Salle
WHERE: Philadelphia, Pa.
FINAL SCORE: La Salle 2, Mason 1
KEY PLAYERS: Sarah Kleinfelter, 4IP, 1ER, 0BB, 5H, 6K, Marina Vitalich L (12-8) 7.2IP, 6H, 1ER, 0BB, 13K, Liz Seymour 2-5, 1R, 3B
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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4th
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5th
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6th
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7th
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9th
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10th
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11th
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George Mason (20-20) (7-7)
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0
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0
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0
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1
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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La Salle (12-21) (3-9)
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1
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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12th
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R
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H
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E
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0
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1
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7
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2
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1
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2
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11
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1
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Fairfax, Va. – George Mason University's softball team battled valiantly but was unable to earn a game one victory, falling 2-1 in 12 innings. Today's scheduled doubleheader was moved to Sunday due to inclement weather and first pitch of the series wasn't thrown until 3 p.m.
The Explorers would start the scoring with a home run in the bottom of the first inning but that would be the only run allowed by senior pitcher Sarah Kleinfelter in her four innings of work. The senior escaped a bases loaded jam in the third inning which was vital, keeping Mason in the contest.
The Patriots were able to match the Explorers in the top of the fourth when redshirt freshman Jess Middleton singled home sophomore shortstop Liz Seymour. Seymour led off the inning with a triple and Middleton promptly brought her home.
Vitalich would replace Kleinfelter in the fifth inning and the San Pedro, Calif. native was impressive, striking out 13 Explorers in 7.2 innings of relief work.
Mason's best opportunity to break the deadlock came in the top of the ninth inning. After Middleton doubled to left-field, freshman first baseman Samantha Zaccari smacked a single to center-field, putting runners on the corners for the Patriots with one out away. Mason was unable to convert after a strike out and ground out ended the threat.
Vitalich did her best to keep La Salle at bay but in the 12th inning, the Explorers were able to break through and win the game. A one out single followed by a Mason error placed the winning runner on third base. A sacrifice fly to center brought La Salle's lead runner home which ended the second longest game of the season for the Patriots.
STAT BREAKDOWN
-For the second time in conference play, Vitalich pitched at least 7 innings of relief.
-Seymour continues to be Mason's main source of run support, the sophomore has at least one RBI and one extra base hit in each of her past three games.
-This is Mason's 10th game of the season that has not ended seven innings, eight games have been decided early while two have gone into extra innings.
NEXT ON THE DIAMOND
Mason faces La Salle again tomorrow in a series ending doubleheader beginning at noon.
