WASHINGTON, D.C. - The George Mason softball team (17-20, 6-9 A-10) fell 5-1 to George Washington (23-12, 13-2 A-10) in a windy battle on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Colonials struck first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The leadoff batter for George Washington singled to the shortstop Rachel Warrens and then stole second and third base. The runner then scored on a sacrifice fly out to center field. The next batter up for the Colonials hit a home runout to left field to take the 2-0 advantage.
 
After two three up, three down respective parts of the second inning, the Patriots tried to garner some offensive momentum in the top of the third.
 
Sophomore Sydney Bales hit a double out to right center to put herself on base. Senior Amber Verstynen was next up at the plate for Mason and hit a single to second base, clearing the base before being called out. With runners on first and third. Mason was unsuccessful in sending a runner home as they were called out on a double play.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, George Washington was able to load the bases on two walks and a single to right field. With only one out in the inning, the Patriots were able to end the inning on a strikeout and a pop fly to the shortstop Warrens.
 
The Colonials scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the 4-0 advantage in the game. With runners on second and third, George Washington scored a run on a sacrifice fly out to centerfield. The next run was scored on a wild pitch.
 
Mason tried to rally offensive momentum again to put themselves on the board. Verstynen led off the inning for the Patriots with a single to the second baseman. Senior EJ Bankson then singled to the pitcher, putting runners on first and second. Both runners were left on base.
 
Sealing their fate, George Washington scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the 5-0 lead. The leadoff batter for the Colonials hit a double down the left field line before advancing to third base on a groundout to second base. The runner on base scored from a sacrifice fly out to center 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 a last chance effort to put themselves on the board, Mason was able to send one run home to prevent being shut out. Warrens led off the inning for the Patriots and hit a double down the left field line. Redshirt sophomore Nicole Bechtel followed that up with a double of her own, this one to right center, to score Warrens.
 
Graduate student Cheyenne Van Pelt earned the start and the loss in the game. After four innings pitched, Van Pelt was relieved by sophomore Carly Cooper who pitched the remaining two innings.

UP NEXT
 
Mason will return home for a 10 game home stand, first hosting Longwood on Wednesday April 20 for a midweek double header with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.