FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (13-7) swept its midweek doubleheader against Coppin State (2-9). The Patriots pitched a one-hit shutout in Game One, winning 4-0. In Game Two, the Patriots' constant offensive production smothered the Eagles 8-2.

MASON BY THE NUMBERS

• Pitchers Aly Rayle and Carly Cooper put up a one-hit shutout in Game 1. Rayle (3-3, 3.02 ERA) pitched four hitless innings and struck out six batters. Carly Cooper (2-3, 3.00 ERA, 1 SV)  only allowed one hit and retired the next eight consecutive Eagles. The junior also recorded her first save of the season.
• Freshman Elyssa DeRosa led the offense in Game One, going 2-for-3 with one triple and two RBI. She added to her hitting total in Game Two, going 1-for-2 with another triple. She now has six triples on the year.
• Senior Haley Taormina hit the series' only home run of the afternoon. In her second at-bat in Game Two, the Chesapeake, Va., native jacked three-run shot over the left field wall. 
• Pitcher Alexandra Anderson (2-0, 3.50 ERA) earned her second win of the season in Game Two. The sophomore pitched four innings, only giving up two runs on five hits and one walk.

GAME ONE: MASON (12-7) vs. COPPIN STATE (2-8)
In Game One, graduate pitcher Aly Rayle made quick work of the Eagle offense. In her four innings of work, she struck out seven out the 13 batters faced. She only allowed one runner on base, which was a full-count walk to the second batter of the game.

Junior Carly Cooper came in relief starting in the fifth inning. After giving up a single up the middle to her first batter, the Seneca Rocks, WVa., native retired the next eight Eagles in order. Because of her strong three innings in relief, she recorded her first save of the season

The Patriots first scored in the bottom of the third inning on a Coppin State wild pitch that allowed freshman Kamryn Inman to score from third during Marlaina Bozek's at-bat.

Three more insurance runs would be added in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Alena Ball singled to left field, Madi Williams came in to pinch run. Williams then advanced to second on a passed ball. Freshman Elyssa DeRosa hit a deep triple that scored Williams from second. When DeRosa slid into third, the Coppin State center fielder committed a throwing error, overthrowing her assignment at third base. This allowed DeRosa to capitalize on the error and scamper home for the second run of the inning.

Rachel Warrens then singled up the middle, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. During Sydney Blackwell's at-bat, where she drew a walk. The Coppin State pitcher, thinking Blackwell would round the bag and head to second for a quick steal, threw to second base, where no one was there to catch the ball, allowing Warrens to score from third and Blackwell to advance all the way to third as the ball rolled into the outfield.

The final score of Game One would end at 4-0 after Carly Cooper retired the side the following inning.

GAME TWO: MASON (13-7) vs. COPPIN STATE (2-9)
In Game Two, the Patriots scored in the first three innings of the game, putting the game out of reach early on. Mason put up back-to-back three run innings to start the game and added two more insurance runs, one in the third and fifth innings. 

In the first inning, with Marlaina Bozek on second and Alena Ball on first, Haley Taormina lifed a single to shallow center. The Coppin State center fielder threw the ball home, but the catcher could not properly field the throw and it got away from her. This allowed Marlaina Bozek, who had just reached third, to run home and score the first run of the game.

With Ball on third and Taormina on second, Rachel Warrens, the fourth batter of the game, hit a bases-clearing double, scoring the other two Patriots. At the end of the first inning, the Patriots were up 3-0.

In the second inning, the top of the order did damage again. This time, with Bozek and Ball on base, Haley Taormina hit a home run to left field. On a 2-2 count, the Chesapeake, Va., native turned on the ball and skied the ball over the left field fence. Taormina's fourth home run of the season doubled the Patriot lead in the second inning. 

The Eagles would get two runs back in the third inning. After Celeste Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk, Manaia Fonoti hit a single to drive Gonzales home. After Fonoti was caught out in between the bases during her hit, Aniyah Haley got on base with a single. Then, Vanessa Carrizosa doubled to bring Haley home. At the end of the third inning, the score was now 6-2 Patriots.

The Patriots would extend their lead in the third inning. Elyssa DRosa led the inning off with a walk, followed by a stolen base. Sydney Blackwell then hit a single that drove DeRosa home from second. 

The last run scored was in the fifth inning. With pinch runner Madi Williams on third base, freshman Kamryn Inman hit a deep infield single that allowed both Inman to reach first safely and Warrens to score.

The final score of Game Two was 8-2.

UP NEXT
The Patriots will finish their Spring Break home stand with a three-game series with new conference rival Loyola Chicago this weekend. Saturday's games will start at noon and 2:30 p.m., while Sunday's lone game will start at noon.