FAIRFAX, Va. – The sixth-seeded George Mason University softball team went toe to toe with No. 3 Saint Joseph's for seven innings but the Hawks ultimately took the A-10 Championship opener 3-2 Wednesday in walk-off fashion.
 
With the score tied 2-2 with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Sarah Ostaszewski doubled home the winning run for the Hawks.
 
Mason received another strong performance from A-10 Co-Pitcher of the Year Marina Vitalich, as the sophomore pitched six innings and struck out seven while allowing just two runs.
 
Redshirt sophomore third baseman Jess Middleton went 3-for-4 to lead the Patriots at the plate, while sophomore second baseman Erin Calpin drove in both runs for the Green & Gold.
 
The Patriots struck in the top of the first inning after Mason's first four hitters reached base. Junior right fielder Brooke Sullivan led off the game with a walk, then she beat out the throw at second on a hard hit ball by freshman catcher Sydnee Wells to the shortstop. With two runners on and no outs, Middleton singled to center to load the bases. Then, on the first pitch to Calpin, the sophomore rocketed a grounder up the middle to bring home Sullivan and Wells.
 
Meanwhile, Vitalich rocketed out of the gate, retiring the first six Saint Joseph's batters, including a pair of strikeouts. She gave up a lead-off double to start the third inning, but took care of the next three hitters, with two of the three going down on strikes.
 
Saint Joseph's tied it up at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. The Hawks loaded the bases with no outs and scored their first run on a wild pitch. A Mason error brought home the other run. The visitors loaded the bases again with two outs, but a beautiful diving catch from senior Katherine Marsh in left field prevented further damage in the inning.
 
Buoyed by singles from Sullivan and Middleton, the Patriots loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth, but Saint Joseph's reliever Madison Clarke retired the next two Mason hitters to get out of the jam.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the first two Hawks reached base, prompting a call to the bullpen for freshman Bekah Ansbro. She retired her first batter, but after that, Saint Joseph's Ostaszewski doubled home the winning run to give the Hawks the win.
 
Mason will now return to the diamond and face Dayton in an elimination game at 5:30 p.m.
 
#GetPatriotic