FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (6-2) won their first home game of the season and fourth consecutive game, as the Patriots beat the Crusaders 9-1 in five innings in Saturday's home opener. 

Mason's starting pitcher Aly Rayle pitched a no-hitter for the Patriots. This was her first collegiate career no-hitter and the first no-no by a Patriot since March 9, 2019, when Bekah Ansbro tossed one in a 1-0 win over Lafayette. On her way to this milestone, the graduate student struck out ten batters on 16 batters faced with no walks.

Mason dominated at the plate as well. The Patriots scored seven runs in the second inning and two more in the third. In the second inning, after freshman Elyssa DeRosa singled and stole second, sophomore Sydney Blackwell's swinging bunt forced the pitcher to commit a throwing error at first, leaving DeRosa able to take third and ultimately advance home, scoring the game's first run. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Jordan Anderson singled to right field, driving in two more runs. The following batter, third baseman Haley Taormina drove a double off the centerfield wall, sending in two more Patriots. Taormina would later be driven home by a Nichole Bechtel single. Finally, after junior Sydney Bales pinch ran for Bechtel, stole second base and advanced to third on another Crusader throwing error, Maddy Myers' sacrifice fly sent in the inning's seventh run of the second inning.

The lone Crusader run was scored off a fielding error by Mason's pitcher in the top of the third inning. After Aly Rayle struck out the first batter and grounded out the second, Holy Cross' Kari Jacobson reached to first base on a throwing error to first base. The ball rolled all the way to the right field corner, where Jacobson was able to round all the bases and reach home. Rayle was able to strike out the very next batter to finish the inning.

The last two runs of the game were scored in the bottom of the third inning. After Sydney Blackwell doubled to left center and later advanced to third on a wild pitch. Second baseman Maggie Mrowka hit a sacrifice fly out to center, driving Blackwell home. Sophomore Charlotte Montgomery was up next to bat, where she drew a walk. She then stole second and was advanced to third after the Crusader catcher overthrew her attempt to catch Montgomery. This set up Jordan Anderson to hit an RBI single to left field.

No more runs were scored for the rest of the game. The game was called after the top of the fifth inning with the final score being 9-1.

UP NEXT
The Patriots will finish their three game home stand tomorrow, as they will play a double header with the Crusaders. First pitch for the first game will be at 10 a.m. Information on how to follow the game can be found below.

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