Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FINAL: Mason 7, South Dakota 9 (PDF Box Score)
FINAL: Mason 5, Central Arkansas 3
 
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The George Mason softball team had a promising opening day of the Madeira Beach Invitational. On the day, Mason fell 9-7 to South Dakota but picked up its first win of the season over Central Arkansas, 5-3.
 
In their first game of the day, the Patriots almost completed an extraordinary comeback against South Dakota. Down by as many as five, Mason fought back with explosive third and fifth innings. Sophomore Adriana Erickson recorded Mason's first home run of the season while sophomore Marissa Butts hit her first career home run. The Patriots would ultimately fall to the Coyotes 9-7.

In its second game of the day, Mason put the first run on the board and never looked back, holding on to win 5-3. Marina Vitalich (1-1) earned the win while Bekah Ansbro struck out seven batters.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – South Dakota

• South Dakota was first to get on the board in the game, but that would be far from the last run to be scored by either team. The Coyotes scored off an RBI double to right center. Ansbro collected two strikeouts in the inning, leaving USD with two runners on base.
• Three singles by the Coyotes in the second inning helped extend their lead, 5-0.
• Mason's offense came alive in the third inning, collecting two hits for three runs. The Patriots' first run of the season came off an RBI single from senior Liz Seymour. Later in the inning, senior Jess Curbeira notched an RBI, scoring Madison Aker. Seymour also touched home plate after a wild pitch by South Dakota.
• The Coyotes responded in the fourth inning with an RBI single and a three-run homer to centerfield to lead 9-3.
• The Patriots had an explosive sixth inning offensively, scoring three runs including two home runs. Adriana Erickson blasted Mason's first home run of the season down the left field line. Marissa Butts followed up a Meghan Graham single up with her first home run of her career (2 RBI) – cutting USD's lead to three, 9-6.
• As the Patriots put on their rally caps down three in the bottom of the seventh, Aker and Curbeira drew two huge walks to put runners on base. Erickson then tabbed an RBI single to cut the Coyotes' lead to two. However, with already two outs, South Dakota recorded the final out of the game on the next batter.
• Aker drew a career-high three walks in the game while the Patriots recorded a season-high six hits. 

 
HOW IT HAPPENED – Central Arkansas

• Mason started the game with a sharp eye at the plate, collecting two hits and three walks. Mason ended the inning with its first lead of the season, 3-0.
• In the bottom of the third, Central Arkansas responded with a two-run homerun to cut Mason's lead to one.
• The Patriots tacked on two more runs after an RBI single up the middle, 5-2.Singles by Liz Seymour and freshman EJ Bankson scored two Patriot runners.
• Central Arkansas tacked on a final run in the bottom of the seventh, but it would ultimately be too late for a comeback. Mason would earn its first win of the season over the Bears, 5-3.
• Freshman Bankson had a career game, collecting two hits and two RBIs.

 
UP NEXT
The Patriots take on Butler (9 a.m.) and Murray State (2 p.m.) in the second day of the Madeira Beach Invitational on Saturday.