FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University softball team staved off elimination on two occasions leading into Saturday's A-10 Championship contest but could not do it a third time, falling to Saint Joseph's 4-1 inside the Mason Softball Complex.
 
The game was tied 1-1 after two and a half innings, but Saint Joseph's used a three-run third inning to open up a lead it would not relinquish.
 
Mason ends its A-10 Championship run with a 2-2 record, capping a potential-showcasing season for one of the youngest teams in the nation. The Patriots return the majority of their major contributors for the 2018 campaign.
 
In Saturday's game, freshman Mary-Elizabeth Luttrell and senior Katherine Marsh each tallied a pair of hits while Marsh drove in the Patriots' run as well. Sophomore Erin Calpin added a hit and scored the run for the Green & Gold.
 
Freshman Bekah Ansbro pitched three and a third innings of scoreless relief for the Patriots in the game, allowing just one walk and no hits while striking out four. Sophomore Marina Vitalich took the loss for the Patriots, but played a critical role in Mason's run in the 2017 tournament, including a complete game shutout Friday vs. Saint Louis.
 
The Hawks struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Vitalich gave up a lead-off double and the Hawks moved her over to third with one out. A single brought the runner home and St. Joe's continued to threaten with runners at first and third and one out. But Vitalich struck out two to end the inning and keep the deficit to just 1-0.
 
Mason bounced right back in the bottom half of the inning. After a one out single from Calpin, Samantha Zaccari walked to give Mason runners at first and second with two down. Marsh then came up clutch once again in this tournament, putting a well-placed single into shallow right field to drive in a run and tie up the score at 1-1. Mason had a chance to make it 2-1, but Zaccari was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice put in play by Madison Aker.
 
The Hawks put runners on second and third with two outs in the second inning, but again Vitalich escaped potential damage, as Saint Joseph's Ostaszewski sent a routine ground ball to second base for the third out of the inning.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Luttrell singled through the right side, stole second and was moved over to third on a sac bunt. But the Patriots could not bring her home and the score remained tied at 1-1.
 
The Hawks opened up their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third. With runners on first and second and one out, the Hawks' Grober put a well-placed single into left to plate the first run. A subsequent double into the gap brought in two more runs.
 
 In the top of the fifth, Mason had a chance to cut into the lead, as Aker walked and advanced to third with two outs. But the Hawks got out of trouble to remain in front by three.
 
Mason put together a nice rally in the top of the seventh. After a Marsh single, a bunt moved her over to second. An infield single by Luttrell moved her over to third but the Hawks got the final out to secure the win.

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