FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason softball team (20-26, 8-12 A-10) took two wins from Rhode Island (11-32, 4-16 A-10) on Saturday afternoon.

The Patriots took the win in the first game of the day 9-1 in six innings before earning the 5-1 win in game two.

Game 1: Rhode Island (11-31, 4-15 A-10) vs. Mason (19-26, 7-12 A-10)
 
Mason started off strong with two runs scored in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Marlaina Bozek led off the inning for the Patriots and was walked within the first four pitches. Senior Taylor Dadig followed that up with a single to third base to put runners on first and second. Senior EJ Bankson then hit a double down the left field line to score Bozek and Dadig.
 
Rhode Island was able to put one run up on the board in the top of the third inning off an RBI single up the middle.
 
A hot hitting bottom of the fourth inning for the Patriots gave them the 7-1 advantage after scoring five runs. Junior Rachel Warrens hit a single up the middle to put herself on base. Junior Maddy Myers followed that up with a single of her own to advance Warrens to third. Redshirt sophomore Nicole Bechtel brought in the first run of the inning off her RBI single through the left side.
 
Continuing, senior Amber Verstynen hit a single through the left side to bring home another run. Bozek hit the fifth consecutive single of the inning that advanced one run home. Then, Dadig hit a single through the right side to score two more runs. To close out the inning, junior Haley Taormina hit a single which allowed a run to be scored before Taormina was called out on her advance to second base.
 
Mason scored their final two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Taormina walked off the game with her two RBI double sent to left field.

Graduate student Cheyenne Van Pelt earned the start and the win in the first game. Van Pelt pitched her sixth complete game of the season.

Game 2: Rhode Island (11-32, 4-16 A-10) vs. Mason (20-26, 8-12 A-10)
 
Similar to the first game, Mason started strong in the bottom of the first inning, this time only scoring just one run. Dadig started the inning with a single through the right side. Bankson followed that up with a single of her own. In a bases loaded situation, Warrens hit a single through the right side that scored Dadig.
 
Rhode Island rallied back in the top of the second inning scoring their lone run of the game off a solo home run out at left field.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, the Patriots scored two more runs. Dadig led off the inning with a single up the middle. Bankson reached base on a fielders choice play before advancing home on a double from Taormina. Sophomore Sydney Bales scored Taormina on the following play off a sacrifice bunt.
 
The Patriots scored their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Taormina led off the inning with a single to left field before advancing on an error from the Rams and a wild pitch. A single up the middle from Myers sent both Taormina and Bales home for Mason.
  
Sophomore Carly Cooper earned the start and the win in the game. Cooper pitched the first 4.1 innings before being relieved by freshman Jordan Anderson.

UP NEXT
 
Mason will close out their home slate with a single game with Rhode Island on Sunday May 1 with first pitch slated for 10 a.m.