DAYTON, Ohio - The George Mason softball team (14-15, 4-4 A-10) split their doubleheader with Dayton (10-17, 5-5 A-10).

The Flyers took the win in the first game of the day 8-0 in five innings before the Patriots stormed back to take the 15-7 win in game two.

Game 1: Mason (13-15) vs. Dayton (10-16)
 
Both teams kept each other scoreless through two and a half innings before Dayton got hot in the bottom of the third inning. The Flyers earned their three runs off an RBI groundout and a two RBI home run out to center field.
 
Mason tried to start an offensive rally in the top of the fourth inning but were unsuccessful in their attempt. Senior Amber Verstynen was able to reach base off a fielding error from the Flyer's second baseman before being called out on a double play. Senior EJ Bankson, who went 1-for-2 at the plate today, hit a single out to right field and advanced to second on a passed ball before the inning was over.
 
The Flyers struck again in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring five runs to take the 8-0 advantage. Dayton was able to score runs off of a throwing error on the pitcher and a grand slam.
  
Sophomore Carly Cooper earned the start and the loss in the first game. Cooper pitched three innings before being relieved by freshman Jordan Anderson to close out the game.
 
Game 2: Mason (14-15) vs. Dayton (10-17)
 
In the second contest, Mason came out strong after their 8-0 loss in five innings to take the 15-7 win in the second game.

After both teams remained scoreless after the first inning, the Patriots struck in the top of the second inning to take the 3-0 advantage. Junior Rachel Warrens hit a single out to right field before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Verstynen then hit a single to second base to advance Warrens to third before she was able to steal second.
 
Junior Haley Taormina followed the two singles with a double that brought in two runs for the Patriots. Sophomore Zoe Vozick then hit a single out to right field that she tried to stretch into a double that led to her being called out at second. Taormina scored on the play.
 
Dayton then stormed back in the bottom of the third inning to score six runs to take the 6-3 lead over Mason. The Flyers scored off of a sacrifice flyout to left field, a single to second base, a single to right field, and three run home run out to left center. All of Dayton's runs were scored with one out left in the inning.
 
Mason had to one-up the Flyers by having a seven-run inning to take the advantage back to lead the game 10-6. Sophomore Marlaina Bozek led off the inning with a single to left field. Warrens then reached base on a fielding error from the shortstop, advancing Bozek to second. Sophomore Sydney Bales reached base on a fielder's choice, putting runners on third and first. Bales then stole second base to put runners in scoring position.
 
Verstynen then reached base on a fielders choice, advancing Bozek home. Taormina then hit a single up the middle, advanced to second on the throw, and sent two runners home for the Patriots. Bankson reached base on an error that ended up advancing Taormina home. Bankson then stole second to put herself in scoring position.
 
Senior Taylor Dadig then hit a double to left field to bring Bankson home for the Patriots. Redshirt sophomore Nicole Bechtel closed out Mason's hot hitting inning with a two run home run out to left field, her first home run in a Mason uniform.
 
Dayton scored one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning of an RBI double, but not before the Patriots were able to add another three runs to their column in the top of the fifth inning.
 
Bales reached base on a throwing error by the Flyer's third baseman before advancing to second on a groundout. Taormina put another player on base for the Patriots after being hit by the pitch. Vozick, next up at the plate, slams a three run home run out to left field to put Mason up 13-7. This was Vozick's first home run of her career.
 
After a three up, three down bottom of the fifth inning, Dadig was able to put herself in scoring position in the top of the sixth after singling through the left side, advancing to second on the throwing error, and reaching third on a ground out. Bozek hit an RBI single to center field to send Daidg home for the 14-7 advantage.
 
Mason was able to keep the Flyers scoreless in the bottom of the sixth inning in another three up, three down situations before the Patriots sealed their fate in the top of the seventh inning. Taormina finished her perfect 3-for-3 plate appearance of the day with a solo home run to push Mason's lead to 15-7.
  
Freshman Alexandra Anderson earned the start in the second game. Anderson pitched the 2.2 innings before she was relieved by graduate student Cheyenne Van Pelt. Van Pelt earned the win in the game, improving to 4-6 on the season.

UP NEXT
 
The Patriots will close out their conference series at Dayton on Sunday Apr. 3 with first pitch slated for 12 p.m.