PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The George Mason softball team (12-9, 3-2 A-10) dropped their first two road conference contests.

The Patriots earned a 4-2 loss in the first game of the day before dropping the second game 8-0 in five innings.

Game 1: Mason (12-8) vs. Saint Joseph's (5-13)
 
In game one, the action started in the bottom of the first inning when Saint Joseph's was able to get on the board.

The Hawks were able to put themselves in scoring position after the first batter was walked, advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third from a groundout to the pitcher, and then scores on a fielding error by the Patriots.
 
Mason, who got out in three batters in the top of the third, gave up one more run to the Hawks in the bottom of the inning after reaching base on a pass ball from the batters strikeout, then advancing to home on an RBI single.

For the next three innings, the Hawks were able to get the Patriots out in four batters or less, while Saint Joseph's was able to add two more runs to their total to take the 4-0 advantage.

Mason was able to add to run to their side of the column in the top of the seventh inning. Senior Taylor Dadig got on base after being walked. Redshirt sophomore Nicole Bechtel reached base on a fielders choice that advanced Dadig to second. Junior Maddy Myers hit a two RBI double to bring home both Dadig and Bechtel.
 
Sophomore Carly Cooper earned the started and the loss in the game, pitching four out of the six innings. Cooper is now 7-2 on the mound this season. Freshman Jordan Anderson relieved Cooper in the top of the fifth inning to pitch the remaining two innings for the Patriots.

 
Game 2: Mason (12-9) vs. Saint Joseph's (6-13)
 
In the second contest, Saint Joseph's came out strong again to shutout the Patriots 8-0 in just five innings.
 
Both teams made for quick work in the first two full innings and the top of the third, getting each team out in four batters or less.
Saint Joseph's struck first in the bottom of the third inning, scoring six runs. The first two batters up for the Hawks each hit doubles, which scored the first run. A bunt from the third batter puts runners of first and third before the runner on first stole second. The fourth batter singled, loading the bases for the Hawks.
 
The next batter up for Saint Joseph's reached base on a fielder's choice as the run home was caught out from the pitcher Alexandra Anderson to catcher Zoe Vozick. The sixth batter of the inning reached base on a fielders choice which sent a run home for the Hawks. With the bases still loaded, the next batter up reaches base on a fielders choice and the runner at third was called out at home with a throw from third baseman Maddy Myers.
 
With two outs and the bases still loaded, the Patriots luck ran out as the eighth batter of the inning hits a grand slam, sending all base runners home for the 6-0 advantage over Mason.
 
Mason was able to get some offensive momentum going in the top of the fourth inning with singles from Myers and sophomore Marlaina Bozek, but it wasn't enough to add a run to the Patriots column.
 
Saint Joseph's did not score again until the bottom of the fifth inning of a single out to the left side and sacrifice fly out to right field.
 
Freshman Alexandra Anderson earned the start and the loss, pitching three innings. Freshman Madi Williams then relieved Anderson to finish out the 1.2 remaining innings.  

UP NEXT
 
The Patriots will finish out the conference road series against Saint Joseph's on Sunday Mar. 20 with first pitch slated for 12 p.m.