WHEN: March 27, 2019
WHERE: George Mason Softball Complex (Fairfax, Va.)
OPPONENT: Towson – 4 p.m. Doubleheader
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team hosts a mid-week doubleheader against Towson at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the George Mason Softball Complex. The Patriots (9-15, 1-2 A-10) take on the Tigers (14-12, 1-2 CAA) before hosting their A-10 home opener against the Fordham Rams March 30-31.   
 
The doubleheader will be streamed on ESPN+. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Mason went 1-2 in its Atlantic 10 series opener against the Dayton Flyers. The Patriots fell in Saturday's doubleheader before picking up its first conference win in Sunday's series finale. 
 
Mason defeated Dayton 6-3 on Sunday behind impressive performances from senior Jess Curbeira and sophomore Meghan Graham. Curbeira went 3-for-4 at the plate including a RBI double. Graham set career highs in hits (3) and RBIs (2) while also going 3-for-4. 
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Bekah Ansbro (5-5), Haellie Gordon (1-7) and Marina Vitalich (3-3) all provided solid performances against the Dayton Flyers. Ansbro gave up zero earned runs over 8.1 innings of work in two appearances. In her first appearance, Mason committed two fielding errors, resulting in the 2-0 loss. She responded with her first save of the season in Sunday's series finale, striking out three batters.
 
Gordon gave up only one earned run in a 7-1 loss in game two of the doubleheader. She recorded two strikeouts against zero walks. In the series finale, Vitalich picked up her third win of the season behind 4.2 innings of solid work for the Green & Gold. She struck out three batters against no walks. 
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Towson: 14-12, 1-2 CAA
Towson had a similar start to conference play, going 1-2 against UNC Wilmington on March 23-24. The Tigers picked up its first CAA win in the Sunday series finale by a score of 8-1. 
 
Towson will jump back into conference play against #16/20 James Madison for a three-game series, beginning March 30.
 
In the circle, Ju Smith-Harrington (6-2) and Sara Johnson (6-3) lead the pitching staff. Smith-Harrington holds an 2.06 ERA while Johnson's ERA sits at 3.30.  
 
Mason will look to contain utility player Nicole Stockinger. So far this season, Stockinger is hitting .377 with an on-base percentage of .461 and slugging percentage of .766. She leads the team in RBIs (24), runs scored (26) and hits (29). 
 
Towson leads the all-time series 48-31. Last season, Mason fell in both contests, 11-3 and 8-7, on April 4, 2018. Prior to that, the two teams split each doubleheader in 2017, 2016 and 2015.