Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

• Mason splits their first two games of the 2018 season.
• Freshman Meghan Graham delivers walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to win game one for Mason.
• Patriots return to action Saturday at 11 a.m. against Virginia.

 
GAME ONE FINAL: Mason 2, EMU 1
Winning Pitcher: Haellie Gordon (1-0) – Losing Pitcher: Nicolle Miranda (0-1)
 
GAME TWO FINAL: Lipscomb 5, Mason 0
Winning Pitcher: Megan Gray (1-0) – Losing Pitcher: Haellie Gordon (1-1)
 
MADERIA BEACH, Fla. – George Mason University's softball team got their season started with two Friday games in the Madeira Beach Invitational. Mason split its slate, defeating EMU 2-1 in a nine-inning thriller, then dropped the nightcap to Lispcomb 5-0.
 
Mason's ace Marina Vitalich got the ball in the afternoon game and pitched every bit as well as her counterpart, Nicolle Miranda, tossing 7.0 IP and allowing just five hits, zero runs and picked up three strikeouts.
 
The first sign of trouble for the Patriots was in the top of the fourth when the Eagles had the bases loaded with just one out. Vitalich got out of the jam by getting the next two hitters to strikeout and fly out to left to escape the inning unscaved.
 
With Mason still looking for their first hit of the game, Vitalich continued to hold her own and keep the score tied. In a similar situation from the fourth inning, EMU had two runners reach base in the sixth, but had their momentum extinguished when Vitalich kept their runners from crossing the plate.
 
After seven strong innings from Vitalich, Verbanic made the call to the bullpen to bring in freshman Haellie Gordon to face the Eagles lineup. With a runner automatically placed on second, Olivia Logan took advantage with a two-out single to give EMU a 1-0 lead.
 
Mason answered with a sacrifice fly from Jess Curbeira to tie the score at 1-1. Following a 1-2-3 top of the ninth from Gordon, Meghan Graham ended the game with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth for her first hit and RBI of her collegiate career.
 
Coming off of her first career win in game one of Friday's doubleheader, Gordon got her first career start against Lipscomb a few hours later. The freshman's stat line included 10 hits allowed, four strikeouts and three earned runs on 92 total pitches in 5.0 innings of work.
 
The Salem Va. native gave up one earned run in the second inning, while one unearned run crossed the plate to give Lipscomb an early 2-0 lead.
 
Later in the top of the fourth, Gordon got out of a bases loaded jam, which at one point included the bases being juiced with only one out. The much-needed double play came when RS-junior Jess Middleton caught a line drive at third base and stepped on third for the unassisted double play to end the inning.
 
Despite the great play, Lipscomb eventually extended its lead thanks to a solo home run by Peyton Ward and an RBI single by Caitlin Turner, giving them a 4-0 advantage.
 
A throwing error led to a run in the fifth, giving the Bison a 5-0 advantage that would end up being the final score.
 
Mason found some life in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of Liz Seymour, who singled to center field. This gave the RS-junior her second hit of the game, and her first multi-hit game of the season.
 
Gordon was replaced by sophomore Madison Larsen in the top of the sixth inning. Larsen pitched 2.0 innings in relief, allowing only three hits and not giving up an earned run on 32 total pitches.
 
 
NEXT ON THE DIAMOND
 
Mason returns to action tomorrow against in-state foe Virginia for game three of the Madeira Beach Showcase. First pitch against the Cavaliers is scheduled for 11 a.m.