GEORGE MASON (5-2) vs. HOLY CROSS (2-2)
WHEN: Feb. 25-26
WHERE: Fairfax, Va. | George Mason Softball Complex
WATCH: Feb. 25 @ Noon | Feb. 26 @ 10 AM | Feb. 26 @ 12:30 PM
HISTORY: Mason leads the all-time series 1-0; last met on Feb. 18, 2023
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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (5-2) will play their first homestand of the 2023 season this weekend, as the Holy Cross Crusaders will come into Fairfax for a three game series with the Patriots.
The Patriots are currently sitting at the top of the A-10 standings with a .714 winning percentage. The next closest team is George Washington with a 4-3 (.571) record.
Mason will be playing their "Strike Out Cancer" game on Saturday at noon. Pink GMU Softball t-shirts will be given to the first 200 that arrive at the Softball Complex.
There will also be a canned food drive held throughout the weekend. Donations will be given to Britepaths, a nonprofit based in Fairfax that strives to meet the local community's basic needs.
A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
Mason is coming into their first homestand on a three game win streak started at the Spartan Classic in Spartanburg, S.C. In those last three games, with Holy Cross being one of them, the Patriots have outscored their opponents 30-6.
The winning streak began last Saturday when the Patriots beat South Carolina State 10-1 in six innings. Strong batting from Haley Taormina, Rachel Warrens and Nichole Bechtel propelled the Patriots past the Bulldogs, scoring ten unanswered runs. Mason's offensive firepower would not slow down, as they later took down Holy Cross later that same day with the same score. In that game, freshman Alena Ball capitalized a bases-loaded situation by hitting a single to extend an already 2-0 Patriot lead. Haley Taormina would clean up the rest of the diamond with a bases-clearing double, breaking the game wide open. This game would also be called in the sixth inning after the score was 10-1.
Sunday's game with Maryland Eastern Shore was a closely contested match up until the bottom of the fourth inning. After the Hawks briefly took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning, the Patriots retook the lead with another Taormina bases-clearing double. A combination of Patriot offense and Hawk miscues lead to Mason's third consecutive victory, this time the score being 10-4.
The Patriot offense was once again recognized by the Atlantic 10 Conference. For the second consecutive week, senior Haley Taormina was named the A-10 Player of the Week. Her numbers for the weekend included .545 / .600 / 1.364 with five runs, six hits, 11 runs batted in, three doubles, two home runs and three stolen bases.
The Patriots are also currently second in the nation in average stolen bases, averaging 4.86 stolen bags per game.
Not to be outdone, the Patriot defense has stifled opponents' offenses as of late, especially sophomore reliever Jordan Anderson. In her three appearances last week, the pitcher pitched six innings, recorded one win and allowed only two hits with a 0.00 ERA.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Crusaders are coming into Fairfax on a two game losing streak, with the Patriots being the first game they lost. Their 2023 campaign started last Friday at the Spartan Classic, where they beat Maryland Eastern Shore 14-5 in five innings. They followed that up with a Saturday morning 2-0 win over South Carolina State.
However, the Patriots would hand the Crusaders their first loss of the season later that same afternoon. Holy Cross would close out their tournament with another loss, this time to the hosts, South Carolina-Upstate.
Freshman Anna Brait currently leads considerably the Crusaders in all offensive statistical categories. In their first four games, the shortstop is 7-for-11 (.636) with four runs, five runs batted in and one home run. During their game with Mason, Brait went 1-for-1 with two walks. She also had two putouts and two assists.
HISTORY WITH THE CRUSADERS
The Patriots and Crusaders only met for the first time last week. This will be the teams' second, third and fourth meetings this weekend. In their one game last week, the Patriots out-hit the Crusaders 12 to 5. Holy Cross' lone run came in the top of the fourth inning, when they halved the Patriot lead to 2-1. The Patriots would score five runs in to extend their lead in the bottom of the frame.
UP NEXT
After this weekend's homestand, the Patriots will be back on the road, but this time they will stay in the Commonwealth. They will play in the Palmer Park Clash in Charlottesville, Va., hosted by Virginia. They will face off against Saint Francis, Fairfield twice, and the 'Hoos.
