WASHINGTON, D.C. - The George Mason softball team (17-19, 6-8 A-10) split their doubleheader with George Washington (22-12, 12-2 A-10) on Saturday afternoon.

The Colonials took the win in the first game of the day 2-1 before the Patriots stole the 4-3 win in extra innings of the second.

Game 1: Mason (16-19, 5-8) vs. George Washington (22-11, 12-1)
 
In a true pitchers duel, a run in the first game was not scored until the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Both teams had three up, three down innings to start the game. Mason and George Washington tried to get an offensive rally in the second but ended up stranding runners on base.
 
Mason was able to put a runner on base after being walked but was unable to advance the runner home. The Patriots prevented a rally from the Colonials in another three up, three down innings with two back-to-back strikeouts.
 
With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, junior Rachel Warrens hit a single to left center to put a runner on base. Warrens was left on base at the end of the inning.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, George Washington got a runner on base after being walked. The next batter was hit by the pitch, but the Patriots were able to end the inning with two back-to-back strikeouts and a pop fly out to right field.
 
The Colonials had a three up, three down inning against the Patriots in the top of the fifth inning before hitting their first hit of the game off a single out to left.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Colonials were able to get runners on base after being walked, stealing second, hit another batter by pitch, before both base runners advanced on a wild pitch. A bunt single scored the first run for George Washington before they scored their second off a sacrifice fly out to center field.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, junior Haley Taormina led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Junior Maddy Myers hit an RBI single to center field to bring Taormina home.
 
Graduate student Cheyenne Van Pelt earned the start and the loss in the game. In her fourth complete game of the season, Van Pelt only gave up two hits and tallied five strikeouts.
 
Game 2: Mason (17-19, 6-8) vs. George Washington (22-12, 12-2)
 
Looking to bounce back from the one run loss, Mason started the inning off with a single to right field from senior Taylor Dadig. Dadig advanced to second on a stolen base and then to third on a wild pitch. Taormina was walked and then stole second base. Both Dadig and Taormina were stranded on base.
 
Colonials were unsuccessful in the bottom of the first inning as the Patriots had a three up, three down inning.
 
For the next 1.5 innings, both teams were able to get each other out in four batters or less.
 
George Washington scored their first run in the bottom of the third inning, scoring a runner off of an RBI double down the left field line. The Patriots rallied back in the top of fourth inning, scoring two runs to take the 2-1 advantage.
 
Taormina led off the inning with a single to center field. Redshirt sophomore Nicole Bechtel hit an RBI double to right center to score Taormina. Sophomore Sydney Bales reached base on an error from the second baseman to score Bechtel on the play.
 
George Washington rallied back in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring two runs of their own. The runs were both scored off of singles out to center field.
 
Mason came back to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning. In a bases loaded situation; Warrens hit a sacrifice fly out to right field to score Dadig on the play. The hit that put Taylor Dadig on base was her 100th career hit.
 
Neither team could score in the remaining two innings, forcing decisive extra innings.
 
On the first pitch of the eighth inning, Taormina hit a solo home run out to center field to give Mason the 4-3 advantage. The remaining batters in the inning got out.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Colonials hit a double down the right field line. The last batter of the inning struck out, earning Mason the win.
  
Sophomore Carly Cooper earned the start in the second game. Cooper pitched 3.2 innings before being relieved by freshman Jordan Anderson. Anderson earned the win, improving her record to 2-0 on the season.

UP NEXT
 
The Patriots will close out their conference series at George Washington on Tuesday Apr. 19 with first pitch slated for 3 p.m.