GEORGE MASON (15-10, 2-1 A-10) vs. RHODE ISLAND (5-15, 2-1 A-10)
GAME PROGRAM: Click Here
WHEN: Sat.-Sun., March 25-26; Sat.: 2 p.m. & 4:30 p.m | Sun.: 10 a.m.
WHERE: Fairfax, Va. | George Mason Softball Complex
WATCH ON ESPN+: Saturday @ 2 p.m. | Saturday @ 4:30 p.m. | Sunday @ 10 a.m.
LIVESTATS: Click Here
HISTORY: Mason leads the all-time series 11-6; last met on April 30-May 1, 2022 (Mason swept the series 9-1, 5-1 & 3-2)
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (15-10, 2-1 A-10) will return home to the Softball Complex this weekend and continue A-10 action, as they will host Rhode Island (5-15, 2-1 A-10) in a three-game weekend series.
Mason's Saturday noon game will be their Mental Health Awareness Game. Mason's Coordinator of Sport Psychology, Dr. Vigon, will be throwing out the first pitch. Wristbands that say "Mental Health Matters;" will also be given out to fans who attend.
Nationally, the Patriots as a team are ranked fourth in stolen bases per game (3.08). Individually, Elyssa DeRosa (.415 / .519 / .738) leads the nation in triples (6) and is second in triples per game (0.24). Haley Taormina (.403 / .443 / .792) is fifth in the nation in doubles per game (0.52). and is third in doubles (13).
The Patriots continued their stealing ways on the diamond. They now have 78 steals on the season, which is now fourth all-time in team history, surpassing the 1994 team that recorded 77. Senior shortstop Rachel Warrens is a perfect 16-for-16 in attempted stolen bases this season.
A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
Mason is coming home after dropping two close games with James Madison in Wednesday's doubleheader. The Patriots lost Game One by the score of 5-9, while in Game 2, the Patriots lost in extra innings by the score of 4-5.
Starting pitcher Aly Rayle (5-3, 2.61 ERA), who earned this week's A-10 Pitcher of the Week Award, led the pitching staff in strikeouts, contributing five of the nine total strikeouts on the day. The graduate student now has 76 strikeouts on the season.
Mason saw three balls leave the park in Wednesday's doubleheader. Senior first baseman Maddy Myers (.213 / .310 / .295) hit her first home run of her college career in Game One, hitting a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning. In Game Two, the Patriots hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the fourth inning. Seniors Haley Taormina and Rachel Warrens (.270 / .345 / .419) hit their fifth and second home runs of the season, respectively.
Freshman Elyssa DeRosa led freshman in hitting, average and RBI, going 2-for-5 (.400) with one double and two RBI
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Rams of Rhode Island are coming into Fairfax with some momentum on their side, having won three of their last five games and winning their conference opener series against George Washington. Their two losses in those five games, however, were shutout losses that ended by means of Run Rule Victory (loss to Santa Clara 0-8 in five innings & loss to George Washington 0-9 in six innings).
Senior outfielder Skyler Rapuano (.410 / .500 / .538) leads the team in average (16-for-39, .410), doubles (5) and slugging (.538). She earned this week's A-10 Co-Player of the Week, going 7-for-10 (.700) with three multi-hit games. For the week, she had a .750 on-base percentage, two doubles, a slugging percentage of .900, scored three runs and also batted in three runs.
Graduate infielder/catcher Elena Gonzalez (.333 / .394 / .383) leads in hits (20-for-60, .333).
Freshman infielder Becca Zawistowski (.283 / .306 / .283) leads the team in RBI (9), while freshman catcher Kylie Bulinski (.195 / .261 / .317) and senior utility player Rachel Zingerman (.275 / .431 / .500) share the lead in home runs, hitting one each.
On the pitching side, senior Liz Lynchard (4-4, 4.68 ERA) has seen the most action, appearing in 13 games, starting in nine and pitching 49.1 innings. Rounding out the rotation is sophomore Katie Zaun (0-6, 5.34 ERA), who has appeared in 13 games, started in six and pitched 38 innings.
TEAM COMPARISONS: Mason | Rhode Island
BATTING
AVG: .285 | .272
OBP: .375 | .310
SLG: .431 | .343
RBI: 104 | 47
HR: 10 | 2
H: 180 | 135
2B: 42 | 25
3B: 10 | 2
PITCHING
ERA: 3.20 | 5.90
SO: 139 | 106
R: 87 | 121
ER: 77 | 100
HR: 10 | 7
2B: 24 | 27
3B: 6 | 7
HISTORY WITH THE RAMS
Mason and Rhode Island first met on March 18, 2007 in Tampa, Fla., during the Speedline Invitational, where the Patriots lost 5-10. It would not be until April 19, 2015, for the two schools would meet again.
The Patriots lead the all-time series 11-6. The last time these two schools met was last season, where Mason swept the series by the scores of 9-1, 5-1 & 3-2.
UP NEXT
The Patriots will be on the road for their midweek doubleheader again, as they will travel down to Farmville, Va. to face Longwood on Wednesday, March 29. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m.
