FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (15-8, 2-1) won their Sunday game against Loyola (5-16, 1-2). The Patriots took two of three this weekend and won their first conference series of the season. The Patriots went 4-1 this week, outscoring their opponents 24-11.

MASON BY THE NUMBERS

• Since Wednesday, starting graduate pitcher Aly Rayle (5-3, 2.56 ERA) won all three of her starts. In 16 innings pitched, she, completed one game, struck out 21 batters and had an ERA of just 0.44
• Leadoff hitter Marlaina Bozek (.459 / .523 / .649) led all Patriots in batting average, going 7-for-15 (.467) with two doubles and one triple.
• Senior shortstop Rachel Warrens (.265 / .338 / .368) had the most RBI this week, batting in five. Redshirt Nicole Bechtel (.297 / .348 / .422) was second with four RBI.
• The Patriot baserunner kept the pressure on the opponent defenses again, stealing multiple bags this week. They now have 75 on the year, which is good for fifth all-time in team history.

MASON (15-8, 2-1) vs. LOYOLA (5-16, 1-2)

Sunday's game featured a pitchers' duel between Mason's Aly Rayle (5-3, 2.56 ERA) and Loyola's Peyton Pepkowski (4-6, 3.02 ERA). Pepkowski pitched a complete six innings, struck out eight Patriots on 21 batters faced and allowed two runs on four hits. Mason's Aly Rayle, on the other side, tossed a seven-inning, 130-pitch complete game, striking out six Ramblers on 31 batters faced and allowed only one run on eight hits.

The only run scored by Loyola on the afternoon was in the top of the first inning, when second baseman Amelia Thomas hit a solo home run to left field on a full count.

The Patriots quickly tied the game in the bottom of the first. After Marlaina Bozek led off with a triple to left field, Alena Ball drew a walk. After Ball darted down the first base line to take her base, she turned hard towards second base, initiating a delayed double steal attempt. With the Rambler defense looking at Ball, Bozek started running towards home and slid home safely. The Patriots at the end of the inning were tied with the Ramblers 1-1.

Mason's go ahead run came at the bottom of the fourth inning. After Nicole Bechtel got on with a single, junior Sydney Bales came in to pinch run for the catcher. After stealing second base and later advancing to third, freshman left fielder Elyssa DeRosa hit a sacrifice fly out to right field that was deep enough for Bales to tag up and score from third.

The score would remain the same for the rest of the game, but there was an opportunity for the Ramblers in the sixth inning to score. After the Patriots recorded a one-pitch leadoff fly out, the Ramblers strung together three consecutive singles, loading the bases. The next batter for the Ramblers hit a comebacker to Rayle, who flipped the ball back to catcher Bechtel for the force out and the second out of the inning. In the following at-bat, Rayle got Rambler pinch hitter Hannah Nalley looking at a 2-2 pitch, giving the Mason starting pitcher her sixth and final strikeout of the day.

The Ramblers would mount a late two-out seventh inning rally with runners on first and second, but Rayle got her last batter to pop up to her to finish the game and wrap up the opening conference series.

UP NEXT
The Patriots will head down to Harrisonburg, Va. to take on the Dukes of James Madison in a midweek doubleheader on Wednesday, March 22. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.