FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason softball team (17-25, 6-12 A-10) fell 5-4 to Fordham (23-18, 11-6 A-10) in extra innings on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Rams struck first, scoring their first run in the top of the first inning. The leadoff batter for Fordham reached base on an error before stealing second base. During the third at bat of the inning, the runner on base for the Rams scored off another error by the Patriots.
 
Mason rallied back in the bottom of the first inning to score two runs, taking their first lead of the weekend. Sophomore Marlaina Bozek led off the inning for the Patriots and hit a single through the left side to put herself on base. Junior Haley Taormina sent Bozek home on a double hit out to center field. Redshirt sophomore Nicole Bechtel followed that up with a single through the right side to send home Taormina to take the 2-1 advantage.
 
After a three up, three down respective parts of the second inning, Fordham scored two runs in the top of the third inning off a two-run home run sent out of center field.
 
Fordham added their fourth run in the top of the fifth inning. The leadoff batter in the inning for the Rams got on base on an error from Mason and then were able to load the bases off two consecutive walks. The run was scored on the third walk of the inning.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Mason was able to cut their deficit to one courtesy of a solo home run sent out through center field from Taormina.
 
Mason rallied offensive momentum in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior Amber Verstynen hit a single to right center to put herself on base. On a groundout play to first, Verstynen was able to advance over to second. Bozek was walked to put runners on first and second. Senior Taylor Dadig then went up to the plate to hit a single out to right center to send home the tying run to force extra innings.
 
The Patriots tried to end the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with a single up the middle from Verstynen, but one of the the base runners for Mason was called out at home from a ball thrown to the catcher from the center fielder.
 
Fordham scored their game winning run in the top of the ninth inning. The leadoff batter of the inning hit a single to center field to put herself on base before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt and then to third on a fly out to left field. The next batter up for the Rams hit a single to center field to score the run.
 
Graduate student Cheyenne Van Pelt earned the start in the game. After three innings pitched, Van Pelt was relieved by sophomore Carly Cooper who the pitched the next 1.1 innings. Cooper was relieved by freshman Jordan Anderson who pitched the remaining 4.2 innings.

UP NEXT
 
Mason will face off against UMES for a midweek doubleheader at the George Mason Softball Complex on Wednesday Apr. 27 with the first pitch slated for 2 p.m.