WHEN: February 10-12, 2023
WHERE: Boiling Springs, N.C. | Brinkley Softball Stadium
OPPONENTS:
Fri., Feb. 10 – Ohio, 11 a.m.; Robert Morris, 3 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 11 – Robert Morris, 1 p.m.; Austin Peay, 7 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 12 – Gardner-Webb, 2 p.m.
vs. OHIO LIVE STATS
vs. ROBERT MORRIS (FRI.) LIVE STATS
vs. ROBERT MORRIS (SAT.) LIVE STATS
vs. AUSTIN PEAY LIVE STATS
at GARDNER-WEBB LIVE STATS
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The George Mason softball team will open the 2023 season at the Runnin' Bulldog Classic in Boiling Springs, N.C. From Feb. 10-12. The tournament, hosted by Gardner-Webb at Brinkley Softball Stadium, will also include opponents Ohio, Robert Morris and Austin Peay.
A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
Mason finished their 2022 season with an overall record of 24-26 and a conference record of 12-12. The Patriots closed out the season with back-to-back sweeps resulting in a six-game winning streak. Mason's 24 wins was the most in a regular season since 2004, when they won 28 that year.
The Green & Gold return 13 letterwinners, 10 being position players and the remaining three being pitchers. Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team members
Marlaina Bozek and
Haley Taormina were among the team's offensive leaders last season, while pitcher
Jordan Anderson, member of the All-Rookie Team, led the team in saves.
Other Patriot position players returning are
Sydney Bales,
Nicole Bechtel,
Charlotte Montgomery,
Maddy Myers,
Hayley Shifflett,
Zoe Vozick,
Rachel Warrens and
Madi Williams. Starting pitchers
Carly Cooper and
Alexandra Anderson also return for the Patriots.
The Atlantic 10's preseason poll ranked the Patriots at seven, while also receiving one first-place vote.
Head coach
Justin Walker enters the 2023 season in his third year at the helm. This will be Walker's sixth year with the Patriots. He adds
Campbell Hutcherson and
Dominique Travers as assistant coaches this year.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Ohio Bobcats
2022 Record: 23-25, 17-10 Mid-American Conference
The Bobcats were seeded second going into last season's MAC Championship Tournament. Their season ended after losing to No. 3 Central Michigan and No. 4 Bowling Green in the tournament.
Ohio is selected third in this season's MAC preseason poll. They return All-MAC First Team junior infielder Annalia Paoli, who led the team in batting average (.371), OPS (1.101), hits (56), triples (3), home runs (11) and RBI (39).
This is Mason's second all-time meeting with the Bobcats. The first time these two schools met was in Tampa, Fla., in 2006. The Bobcats won 5-2.
Robert Morris Colonials
2022 Record: 31-21, 16-9 Horizon League
The Colonials won their first games in the Horizon League Championship Tournament for the first time in school history last season. They eventually lost to top-seeded Oakland in the title game.
The Colonials are picked to finish second within their conference in their latest preseason poll. They picked up one first-place vote as well in the poll. The Colonials will also return five starting infielders. Of the five, sophomore third baseman Alaina Koutsogiani were among last season's team leaders in batting average (.270), at bats (178), runs (35), hits (48) and homeruns (3). Of the three pitchers returning, graduate student Dana Vatakis led the team last year in starts (16), appearances (24), innings pitched (106.1).
This weekend's two games against the Patriots (Fri. & Sat.) will be the first ever meeting between the schools.
Austin Peay Governors
2022 Record: 30-23, 17-11 Ohio Valley Conference
The Governors finished their season with a three-game sweep against SIU Edwardsville Cougars. They would eventually lose to the Cougars three days later when they met at the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournament, ending their 2022 season. This will be their first season in Atlantic Sun conference, where they are selected to finish 8
th in the ASUN Softball Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Governors will return a number of Ohio Valley Conference All-Team members, such as Player of the Year Lexi Osowski-Anderson, who led the team in average (.408), OPS (1.274), runs (42), hits (64), doubles (15), homeruns (13) and RBI (46). Second Team pitcher Jordan Benefiel and designated player Kylie Campbell also return to the team.
Saturday night's game with the Patriots will be the first meeting between the schools.
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
2022 Record: 15-29, 7-20 Big South Conference
The Bulldogs finished their 2022 season on a seven-game losing streak, including back-to-back sweeps from Longwood and Campbell. The Big South Preseason Poll selected the Bulldogs to finish 8
th this season.
The Bulldogs return senior infielder Araceli Pesqueira, who was named Big South Second-Team All-Conference. She led the team in average (.349), OPS (.901), hits (45), doubles (12) and triples (1).
Sunday afternoon's game with the Patriots will be the first meeting between the schools.
UP NEXT
After this weekend's tournament, the Patriots will be on the road again next week (Feb. 17-19), travelling to Spartanburg, S.C., for another tournament. The Spartan Classic, hosted by USC Upstate, will feature games against UMES, SC State and Holy Cross.
Mason's home opener will be Feb. 25-26, when they host Holy Cross in a three-game series. Sunday's home game will be the Patriots' Cancer Awareness Game, as there will also be a canned food drive.
