KINGSTON, R.I. – George Mason University's softball team defeated Rhode Island 4-1 in the series finale Sunday and completed Easter week with a 5-0 record.

Unlike in both games of Saturday's sweep, Mason had to come from behind to complete its first three-game conference series sweep since April 2014, which also came against the Rams.

Sophomore Marina Vitalich (10-8) pitched another complete game for her second win this weekend. She struck out five batters in 109 pitches Sunday, 13 pitches fewer than her freshman counterpart Sarah Gunderson (2-10), who had three strikeouts to her account.

"I am so proud of this team," head coach Joe Verbanic said after his team's sixth-straight win, which puts them four wins above the postseason threshold. "We knew our pitching would be the foundation of what we are building [and] our defense would take some time to catch up.

"Well, they have, and it is showing in our play."

The sweep became a reality thanks to a balanced attack by the Patriots with seven players posting a hit apiece for Mason's total of seven in the game. Senior left fielder Katherine Marsh, junior right fielder Brooke Sullivan and freshman catcher Sydnee Wells all picked up an RBI while freshman pinch runner Alyssa Lawton made the most of her opportunity to score on Marsh's single in the sixth inning for the final run in the game.

Earlier, Rhode Island had taken the lead for the first time in the series with an unearned run from Marylynn Muldowney off of a single by Jenna Cubello. Mason's response came in the fifth inning, when Sullivan, Wells, freshman shortstop Madison Aker and sophomore designated hitter Jess Curbeira all had hit-producing at-bats with two outs. With the help of a throwing error by Rhody, those produced three unearned runs that switched the game's momentum to the Patriots' dugout.

After Lawton's run made it 4-1 in the sixth inning, the Rams did not have much left in them and Vitalich finished the game off with a three-up-three-down inning.
"It has been a real team to get to where we are," Verbanic added. "We now know that we can play well and win every time out."

NEXT ON THE DIAMOND

Mason will continue A-10 play with a Revolutionary Rivalry doubleheader in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. First pitch of game one will be at 2 p.m.