FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University's softball team put together its first win streak of the campaign with a 6-5 comeback victory against former Colonial Athletic Association rival Towson on Wednesday afternoon.

After a five-run fourth inning put Towson in the lead, 5-2, the Patriots' coaching staff pulled sophomore starter Marina Vitalich out of the game and threw freshman Taylor Mayer (1-2) into the circle. Stranding three Towson runners on base in as many innings, Mayer held the Tigers scoreless for the remainder of the game to help her team to second-straight win, which was also her first at the intercollegiate stage.

"I am really excited for her, I think she did a great job," said assistant coach Caitlyn de la Haba, who works primarily with the pitchers. "It was a good combination – Marina coming in and Taylor closing it out – because I think they complement each other in a lot of ways."

"[Taylor]'s been working really hard, she's been coming in to do extra pitching and I am really proud of her for sticking it out and going after it," de la Haba added. "She's continued to get better every time she goes out there so I am excited to see what she can do moving forward."

Mason's batters produced a huge sixth inning in which they scored four runs off three hits and Towson's only error to retake the lead. The Patriots put pressure on Towson early in the inning by loading the bases with no outs but a flyout by sophomore first baseman Samantha Zaccari and a defensive play that caught sophomore right fielder Victoria Webster out at home quickly turned the tables. Nevertheless, the Patriots persevered and made it a game with a one-run single from redshirt sophomore third baseman Jess Middleton and a walk from sophomore second baseman Erin Calpin. Mason dealt the final blow through junior designated hitter Brooke Sullivan, who placed her single perfectly to allow Middleton and freshman catcher Sydnee Wells to cross home plate to put the Patriots in the lead for the final time.

"[The win] shows that offensively we have confidence," de la Haba said. "I think that is something we can rely on and the more consistent we can get our defense, the easier the offense will become because we won't be putting ourselves in the situations we have gotten ourselves into.

Getting big hits under pressure has become a regular in Mason's win scripts. That was the story for the entirety of game one with both runs in the second inning that gave the Patriots a 2-0 lead – singles by Zaccari and Wells to pick up the RBI – came in the same of situation.  

"Overall, [our batters'] confidence is a big part of that – they are starting to feel comfortable at bat and that is contributing to those comebacks and scoring more runs."

Mason brought the same at-bat intensity that decided the first game into the latter contest, getting two runners in scoring position in the opening inning, but Towson's defense, led by Julia Smith-Harrington (7-7) managed to hold off the Patriots' foray.

The Tigers did better to capitalize on a similar situation in the second inning and scored three runs to put them in control of the game. Mason provided a quick response through Wells' second RBI of the day, which scored Webster, 3-1. In the seventh inning Wells and Webster had an opportunity to spark another Patriot comeback, but this time the freshman flied out to finalize the third-straight non-conference split between the former CAA foes.

NEXT ON THE DIAMOND

Mason will have a short break from home action this weekend, when it travels to Dayton for its first Atlantic 10 road series of the season.