• A six-run fifth inning by Ohio State proved to be too much as the Patriots dropped their season opener on Friday afternoon.
• Jess Curbeira, Alyssa Lawton and Madison Aker recorded Mason's three hits in the game.
• The Patriots are back in action Saturday against Ole Miss at 12:30 p.m. and Central Florida at 8 p.m., both to be played at the UCF Softball Complex.

 
FINAL: Mason 0, Ohio State 7 (PDF Box Score)
 
ORLANDO, Fla. – The George Mason softball team dropped its season opener to Ohio State, 7-0, on Friday afternoon. A six-run fifth inning by the Buckeyes proved too much to overcome for the Green & Gold.

The Patriots will look to bounce back with two games on Saturday against Ole Miss at 12:30 p.m. and tournament host UCF at 8 p.m. Mason rounds out the Friends of Jaclyn Tournament with two more games on Sunday against Minnesota (11:30 a.m.) and North Florida (1:30 p.m.).

Freshmen EJ Bankson and Amber Verstynen made the start in their first collegiate game as Patriots. In the circle, junior Bekah Ansbro (0-1) earned the start in the matchup.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Senior Jess Curbeira started the Patriots' offense off in the second inning with a double to left center.
• In the bottom of the third, Ohio State scored the first run of the game off a sacrifice fly to left field.
• The Patriots struggled offensively in the third, fourth and fifth innings, going 1-2-3 in the lineup.
• The Buckeyes came out swinging in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring two runs off a homerun to left field. Ohio State collected another five hits in the inning to score an additional four runs.
• With only one out in the fifth inning, redshirt junior Marina Vitalich took the mound for the first time since March 17, 2018. Vitalich immediately made an impact for the Patriots, getting a Buckeye player to fly out for the second out. She later earned her first strikeout of 2019 to end the inning with the bases loaded.
• Singles by juniors Alyssa Lawton and Madison Aker sparked the Patriots' offense in the sixth inning. Ultimately, the Patriots would be unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
• Ohio State would hold Mason hitless in the final inning to win the game 7-0.

 
IN THE CIRCLE

• Ansbro pitched three complete innings, including two scoreless, in Mason's opener with 49 total pitches and 31 strikes. Ansbro tabbed her first strikeout of 2019 in the second.
• Sophomore Haellie Gordon came in for the fourth inning, pitching 38 total pitches and 29 strikes.
• In her first game back since March 17, 2018, Vitalich took the mound in the sixth inning. Vitalich recorded two strikeouts and allowed no runs on 47 total pitches and 27 strikes.

UP NEXT
Mason takes on two opponents on Saturday: Ole Miss at 12:30 p.m. and UCF at 8 p.m. Live stats and video (UCF game only) can be found on Mason's schedule.