FINAL: Mason 3, Stetson 8 (PDF)

DeLAND, Fla. - The George Mason softball team (0-5) fell to Stetson by a score of 8-3 on Sunday at Patricia Wilson Field. 

The Patriots earned three runs on six hits in the matinee. Junior Amelia Ely notched her first home run of the season, while redshirt junior Adriana Erickson and fellow junior Meghan Graham each tallied their third RBI of the weekend.

In her second start of the season, senior Marina Vitalich threw 67 pitches in 4.0 innings of work allowing six earned runs on six hits, two strikeouts and two walks.

Junior Haellie Gordon threw 2.0 innings in relief for Mason.

The Patriots started off hot, with Graham leading off the top of the first with a single into left field. Graham later scored when Erickson earned her fifth hit of the weekend, doubling into the left center gap. Mason earned an early one-run lead.

In the bottom half of the first, a lead off walk for the Hatters lead to a score, tying the affair at one in the first inning.

In the following inning, the Hatters were able to get the bases loaded and a walk scored their second run of the game. The next batter for Stetson, junior Lizzie Shubert, recorded her first career grand slam, extending the Hatters' lead by five.

Later in the sixth, Ely recorded her first home run in Green & Gold over the left center field wall. The solo shot brought the Patriots within four, trailing 6-2 heading into the bottom half of the sixth.

In that bottom half inning, the Hatters answered when Shubert recorded her sixth and seventh RBI of the game, driving in two runs with a single through the six hole.

The seven runs batted in is a career best for Shubert.

The Patriots never stopped fighting, as Graham earned her third RBI of the weekend in the top of the seventh on a fielder's choice, scoring freshman Maddy Myers.

UP NEXT

The Patriots will remain on the road, heading to Huntsville, Texas to participate in the Bearkat Classic hosted by Sam Houston State from Feb. 14-16.