WHEN: February 8-10, 2019
WHERE: Orlando, Fla.
OPPONENTS: Ohio State – Feb. 8 at noon; Ole Miss – Feb. 9 at 12:30 p.m.; UCF – Feb. 9 at 8 p.m.; Minnesota – Feb. 10 at 11:30 a.m.; North Florida – Feb. 10 at 1:30 p.m.
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM: UCF game only
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
FAIRFAX, Va. –The George Mason softball team will open the 2019 season at the Friends of Jaclyn Tournament in Orlando, Fla. on Feb. 8-10. The Patriots take on Ohio State, Ole Miss, UCF, Minnesota and North Florida over the course of the three-day tournament.
The Patriots will face seven 2018 NCAA Tournament participants in 2019, seeing three during the opening weekend of play: Ohio State, Ole Miss and Minnesota.
OPENING WEEKEND
The Patriots will kick off the 2019 season in Florida for the fifth straight season. Mason will play 10-straight road games to start the 2019 campaign, all to be played in Florida.
In 2018, the Patriots opened the season at the Madeira Beach Showcase, finishing 2-3 on the weekend. Mason will follow up opening weekend of play this year with the Madeira Beach Showcase on Feb. 15-17.
2019 SQUAD
The Patriots return 14 letterwinners and all but one starter to the 2019 team, adding seven new faces to the program. Seniors
Liz Seymour and
Jess Curbeira look to lead the Patriots to the Atlantic 10 Championships in May.
In the pitching circle, juniors
Bekah Ansbro and
Marina Vitalich as well as sophomore
Haellie Gordon will look to carry the pitching load this season. Ansbro led the league in A-10 strikeouts and posted 127 total strikeouts on the season. Gordon led the team in appearances (33) while posting a 3.53 ERA and 65 strikeouts.
ATLANTIC 10 PRESEASON POLL
The Patriots were selected to finish fifth in the 2019 Atlantic 10 Conference Softball Championships, announced by the conference on Jan. 31. The poll is conducted by the league's 10 head coaches. Mason received 57 points to rank tied for fifth with George Washington.
2018 RECAP
Mason finished the 2018 season 22-28 overall and 12-11 in the A-10 in 2018. The Patriots made it to the 2018 Atlantic 10 Championships before falling in the first round double-elimination tournament. The team's six saves will go down as the most in a single season, while the 20 home runs finish as the second most in school history. Their 154 walks (3
rd) and 227 strikeouts (3
rd) also crack the top-five.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Ohio State, 2018 Record: 36-16, 14-8 Big Ten
The Buckeyes hold a 3-1 all-time advantage over the Patriots. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2010. Ohio State returns shortstop Lilli Piper who was selected to USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top-50 Watch List.
Ole Miss, 2018 Record: 32-25, 8-18 SEC
Mason and Ole Miss will battle for the first time in program history. The Rebels were selected to finish 12th in the SEC Preseason Poll.
UCF, 2018 Record: 34-22, 12-9 AAC
UCF leads the all-time series 5-0. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2015.
No. 21/23 Minnesota: 41-17, 13-3 Big Ten
Mason and Minnesota will face off for the first time in program history. The Gophers return pitcher Amber Fisher who was named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top-50 Watch List.
North Florida, 2018 Record: 24-30, 4-14 ASUN
The Patriots final matchup of the weekend will come against North Florida at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 10. This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
