GEORGE MASON (9-5, 0-0 A-10) vs. BINGHAMTON (9-5, 0-0 America East)
GAME PROGRAM: Click Here
WHEN: March 11-12; both days are double headers & will have Noon/2:30 start times
WHERE: Fairfax, Va. | George Mason Softball Complex
WATCH: Only for Sunday's games: Sunday @ Noon | Sunday @ 2:30 P.M.
LIVESTATS: Click Here
HISTORY: Mason leads the all-time series 2-1; last met on March 15, 2014
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (9-5) will return to Fairfax to start a nine-game homestand, starting with a four-game weekend series with Binghamton.
The Patriots are currently sitting at the top of the A-10 standings with a .640 winning percentage. The next closest team is George Washington with an 8-7 (.533) record.
A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
Mason is back in action for the first time since their 2-2 showing at last weekend's Palmer Park Clash in Charlottesville, Va. While three of the four games were decided by just one run, the Patriots once again outscored their opponents over the weekend 18-11 thanks to an explosive offensive performance in Sunday's 9-1 win against Saint Francis.
Rookie Elyssa DeRosa led the team in batting average (7-for-14, .500), doubles (3), triples (1) and runs batted in (6). Because of her clutch hitting and consistent batting, the outfielder from Corning, N.Y., was named the A-10 Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week.
Nationally, the Patriots are ranked second in stolen bases per game (4.00). Elyssa DeRosa is ranked 35th in batting and Haley Taormina is ninth with 1.43 RBI per game.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Bearcats of Binghamton are coming into Fairfax having won eight of their last nine games and are currently on a six-game winning streak. During last weekend's Hampton & Norfolk State Tournament, Binghamton swept their games against Hampton, Norfolk State and Delaware, beating their opponents with a combined score of 35-10.
Their performance earned them a sweep in this week's America East Conference awards, all led by pitchers.
Redshirt sophomore utility player Lindsey Walter was named Player of the Week, pitching five scoreless innings and recording one win in three appearances while also leading the team in batting (.625), on-base percentage (.750) and slugging percentage (.625). Allison L'Amoreaux won Pitcher of the Week after pitching a five strikeout, three-hit shutout against Hampton on Saturday. Finally, freshman pitcher Brianna Roberts won her second Rookie of the Week award this season after going 1-0, striking out a career-high nine batters against Hamton and recording a save.
HISTORY WITH THE BEARCATS
The Patriots and Bearcats will be meeting for the first time in almost a decade. All three prior matchups have taken place in Fairfax. Their first matchup was back in 2011, when the two schools split the two-game series, both being decided by just one run. They would meet again in 2014 when Mason hosted the Cherry Blossom Classic. The Patriots went on to win 6-1.
UP NEXT
The Patriots will continue their homestand on Wednesday, March 15, when Coppin State comes to Fairfax for a midweek doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
