GEORGE MASON (15-8, 2-1 A-10) at JAMES MADISON (15-7, 2-1 SUN BELT)
WHEN: Wednesday, March 22; 3 & 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Harrisonburg, Va. | Veterans Memorial Park
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HISTORY: James Madison leads the all-time series 30-9; last met on March 30, 2022 (James Madison won both games 9-0)
HARRISONBURG, Va. – The George Mason softball team (15-8, 2-1 A-10) will hit the road for the first time in 19 days, as they will travel down to Harrisonburg, Va., to take on in-state rival James Madison (15-7, 2-1 Sun Belt) in a Wednesday doubleheader at Veterans Memorial Park.
Nationally, the Patriots as a team are ranked fourth in stolen bases per game (3.22). Individually, Haley Taormina (.414 / .450 / .800) leads the nation in doubles per game (0.57) and is third in doubles (13). Elyssa DeRosa (.417 / .514 / .750), on the other hand, leads the nation in triples (6) and triples per game (0.26).
The Patriots continued their stealing ways on the diamond. They now have 75 steals on the season, which is now fifth all-time in team history.
A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
Mason is coming into Harrisonburg winning four of their last five games. The Patriots swept Coppin State last Wednesday and won two of three against Loyola Chicago to win their first conference series of the season.
Starting pitcher Aly Rayle (5-3, 2.56 ERA) won all three of her starts last week. The Herndon, Va., native struck out 21 batters and allowed just two runs, with only one being earned. Her dominant pitching earned the graduate student this week's Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week award. It is Rayle's second such award with the Patriots this season.
Junior second baseman Marlaina Bozek (.459 / .523 / .649) led the team in hits (7-for-15) and average (.467) for the second consecutive week. The leadoff hitter from Washington, Pa., scored four runs, had two doubles and one triple as well. Her consistent hitting and ability to get on base played a major role in Mason's four wins.
Senior shortstop Rachel Warrens (.265 / .338 / .368) had the most RBI last week, batting in five. Redshirt junior Nichole Bechtel (.297 / .348 / .422) was second with four RBI.
Sophomore pitcher Alexandra Anderson (2-0, 3.75 ERA) earned her second win of the season during Game 2 of the Coppin State doubleheader. She pitched four innings in relief and retained the Patriot lead.
Junior pitcher Carly Cooper (2-3, 3.42 ERA, 1 SV) recorded her first save of the season after coming to pitch in relief in Wednesday's Coppin State game. After giving up a hit from her first batter, she retired the next eight batters to secure a three-inning save.
Sophomore pitcher Jordan Anderson (2-0, 3.75 ERA, 1 SV) also recorded her first save of the season. Much like Cooper's outing, Anderson gave up a hit to her first batter but retired the next six in order to get the save against Loyola.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Dukes of James Madison have won five of their last seven games, beating teams such as Saint Joseph's, Coppin State and Fairleigh Dickinson. They started their Sun Belt Conference play over the weekend, winning two of three against Coastal Carolina. All three games were low-scoring affairs that were decided by only one run.
Junior outfielder Kylee Gleason (.352 / .387 / .426) leads the team in hits and average (19-for-54, .352). Graduate infielder Hannah Shifflett (.290 / .446 .629) leads the team in RBI (17) and is tied with the lead in home runs with freshman infielder KK Mathis (4). Shifflett is ranked top ten in multiple Sun Belt Conference offensive statistics, such as 10th in slugging percentage (.629), 9th in OPS (1.075), 5th in triples (3) and 4th in walks (17).
Rounding out the JMU offense, KK Mathis (.286 / .366 / .540) and sophomore infielder Jasmine Hall (.270 / .365 / .524) are both tied for second on the team in RBI (14).
On the pitching side, junior Alissa Humphrey (7-4, 2.24 ERA, 3 SV) has seen the most action, appearing in 15 games, starting in 12 and pitching 75 innings in total. Rounding out the rotation are freshman Kylah Berry (4-0, 1.42 ERA), Rebecca Muh (4-1, 2.69 ERA) and sophomore Lexi Rogers (0-2, 5.25 ERA)
HISTORY WITH THE DUKES
The last time these two schools met was last season, where James Madison won both games by the score of 9-0 in a midweek doubleheader.
UP NEXT
The Patriots will return to Fairfax this weekend, as they will continue A-10 action. Rhode Island will come to the George Mason Softball Complex for a three-game series. Saturday will feature a doubleheader starting at noon, while Sunday's single game will start at 10 a.m.
