GEORGE MASON (17-11, 4-2 A-10) at LONGWOOD (13-10, 2-0 BIG SOUTH)
WHEN: Wednesday, March 29; 4 & 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Farmville, Va. | Lancer Field
WATCH ON ESPN+: Game One | Game Two
HISTORY: Longwood leads the all-time series 6-0; last met on April 20, 2022 (Mason lost both games 2-11 & 5-8)
FARMVILLE, Va. – The George Mason softball team (17-11, 4-2 A-10) will travel down to Farmville, Va., to take on Longwood (13-10, 2-0 Big South) in a Wednesday doubleheader at Lancer Field.
Nationally, the Patriots as a team are ranked fourth in stolen bases per game (3.11). Individually, left fielder Elyssa DeRosa (.378 / .478 / .689) leads the nation in triples (7) and triples per game (0.25 ). Senior Haley Taormina (.384 / .423 / .733), on the other hand, is tied for third in doubles (13).
In the conference, the Patriots' 4-2 record puts them in second place. Saint Louis is the only team with a better record, with a 5-1 mark.
A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
Mason is coming into Farmville winning two of their last five games. The Patriots were swept by James Madison in last week's midweek double header and won two of three against Rhode Island over the weekend to win their second conference series of the season.
Starting pitcher Aly Rayle (7-3, 2.16 ERA) went 2-0 with one no decision last week. The Herndon, Va., native struck out 26 batters and allowed just three runs, with only two being earned. Her headline performance was last Saturday's game against Rhode Island, where the graduate student pitched her second no-hitter of the season. Her dominant pitching earned the graduate student this week's Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week award for the second consecutive week. Not only was she recognized by the conference, but she was named the NFCA Pitcher of the Week, as well as being recognized by the NCAA.
Rookie Elyssa DeRosa hit her seventh triple over the weekend. The Corning, N.Y., native now leads the nation in both triples and triples per game.
Catcher Nicole Bechtel (.316 / .358 / .474) led the team in hitting over the weekend against Rhode Island, going 4-for-9 (.444) with two doubles and one triple.
The Patriots continue their stealing ways, going 9-for-11 on stolen bases this weekend. Senior Rachel Warrens (.280 / .355 / .415) is a perfect 20-for-20 on the season. They now have 87 on the year, just four shy of securing third all-time (90 in 1997) and ten from setting a new school record (96 in 2004 & 1995).
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Lancers of Longwood have won three of their last four games, beating teams such as DePaul and Presbyterian and losing to Michigan by only one run. They started Big South Conference play over the weekend, winning two against Presbyterian before having their third game canceled due to inclement weather.
Sophomore infielder Jaden Pone (.413 / .450 / .547) leads the team in hits and average (31-for-75, .413). Senior shortstop/outfielder Lauren Taylor (.299 / .351 .388) leads the team in RBI (12) and has one home run on the season. Senior infielder Korynna Anderson (.273 / .294 / .470) leads the team with home runs with three on the year.
Rounding out the Longwood offense, there are three Lancers tied for second in RBI. Senior catcher/third baseman Lindsey Hay (.328 / .406 / .483), Korynna Anderson and junior utility player Kayley DeVivi (.203 / .294 / .294) all have 11 RBI.
On the pitching side, the two main starters are freshman Maggie Chapin (5-3, 3.14 ERA) and sophomore Er'ron Burton (7-6, 3.88 ERA, 1 SV). Both pitchers have over 60 innings recorded on the season. Burton has 60 strikeouts, while Chapin has 40 on the year.
Rounding out the pitching staff is redshirt senior Reggie Kanagawa (1-1, 4.29 ERA), who has only pitched 21 innings this season.
Chapin was named this week's Big South Co-Freshman of the Week, after pitching a complete game shutout victory against Presbyterian. She struck out seven batters and only gave up one hit.
TEAM COMPARISONS: Mason (28 games played) | Longwood (23 games played)
BATTING
AVG: .278 | .252
OBP: .365 | .308
SLG: .418 | .351
RBI: 108 | 81
HR: 10 | 9
H: 194 | 149
2B: 44 | 24
3B: 12 | 4
PITCHING
ERA: 2.84 | 3.84
SO: 165 | 112
R: 88 | 79
ER: 77 | 63
HR: 10 | 5
2B: 35 | 22
3B: 6 | 5
HISTORY WITH THE LANCER
The last time these two schools met was last season, where Mason lost both games by the score of 2-11 and 5-8 in a midweek doubleheader.
UP NEXT
The Patriots will continue their road trip this weekend, as they will travel to the Bronx to face off against Fordham in a three-game weekend series from April 1-2. Saturday's double header will begin at noon, while Sunday's finale will also start at noon.
