GEORGE MASON (17-13, 4-2 A-10) at FORDHAM (10-15, 2-1 A-10)
WHEN: Sat.-Sun., April 1-2; Saturday at 2 p.m. | Sunday doubleheader beginning at noon
WHERE: Bronx, N.Y. | Bahoshy Field
WATCH ON ESPN+: Game One (Sat. 2 p.m.) | Game Two (Sun. Noon) | Game Three (Sun. 2:30 p.m.)
LIVESTATS: Click Here
HISTORY: Fordham leads the all-time series 15-2; last met on April 23-24, 2022 (Fordham swept the series 3-0)
BRONX, N.Y. – The George Mason softball team (17-13, 4-2 A-10) will continue their roadtrip this week, as they will travel up to the Bronx to take on Fordham (10-15, 2-1 A-10) to resume Atlantic 10 action this weekend at Bahoshy Field.
Nationally, the Patriots as a team are ranked fourth in stolen bases per game (3.03). Individually, left fielder Elyssa DeRosa (.354 / .453 / .646) leads the nation in triples (7) and triples per game (0.23). Senior Haley Taormina (.378 / .422 / .722), on the other hand, is tied for first in doubles (14).
At 17-13, the Patriots have the best overall record in the Atlantic 10. In the conference, the Patriots' 4-2 record puts them in second place. Loyola Chicago (10-16, 4-2) also has a 4-2 conference record and has placed themselves in the top three. Saint Louis (12-17, 5-1) is the only team with a better record, with a 5-1 mark.
A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
Mason is coming into the Bronx winning two of their last five games. The Patriots won their second conference series against Rhode Island last week, but were swept by Longwood in Wednesday's doubleheader.
Starting pitcher Aly Rayle (7-4, 2.55 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.
Despite having lost her most recent game against Longwood, the graduate student struck out her 100th batter of the season in the bottom of the second inning. Her four strikeouts during her most rececnt starts has now given her 101 strikeouts on the season.
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.
On Wednesday, senior first baseman Maddy Myers (.219 / .310 / .301) led the team in RBI, batting in three Patriots. She also knocked two doubles on the day.
Three Patriots also had multi-hit games during Wednesday's first game against Longwood. Myers, freshman DP Alena Ball (.286 / .412 / .286) and junior catcher Zoe Vozick (.273 / .333 / .273) all recorded two hits.
The Patriots continue their stealing ways, going 4-for-4 on stolen bases on Wednesday. Senior Rachel Warrens (.267 / .347 / .395) is a perfect 21-for-21 on the season, while Alena Ball is also a perfect 12-for-12. The Green & Gold have 91 stolen bases on the year, which is now third all-time (90 in 1997). The only record standing in the way is the school record, which was 96 (set in 1995 & 2004).
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Rams of Fordham have won three of their last five games, winning their first A-10 series of the season against St. Bonaventure (6-16, 1-5 A-10) over the weekend and splitting a midweek doubleheader with Drexel (6-16, 2-3 CAA).
With a 2-1 record in the Atlantic 10, Fordham currently sits in fifth place in the conference standings.
Fordham's offense hits for power, as they have almost just as many home runs (15) as they do doubles (17).
Freshman outfielder Neleh Nogay (.345 / .379 / .364) leads the team in average (19-for-55, .345). Senior outfielder Michaela Carter (.274 / .346 / .374) leads the team in hits (20). Sophomore catcher Sydney Wells (.218 / .279 / .364) leads in RBI with ten. and has two home runs on the season. Two Rams are tied for the team lead in home runs. Freshman infielder Eva Koratsis (.196 / .275 / .447) and junior pitcher/infielder Bailey Enoch (.167 / .363 / .350) both have three on the year.
On the pitching side, freshman Holly Beeman (4-4, 1.93 ERA) is the staff's ace. The two-time A-10 Pitcher of the Week winner has only allowed eight walks and 12 earned runs on the season. She has also completed six of her seven starts and has pitched 56 innings. Senior Devon Miller (3-4, 7.13 ERA) has seen the second most action this season, pitching 41.2 innings. Miller also leads the Rams pitching staff in strikeouts with 31. Beeman is not far behind, as she has 30 on the year.
Rounding out the pitching staff is Bailley Enoch (3-4, 4.58 ERA), who has pitched 37.1 innings and struck out 28 batters this season. Sophomore Emily Watkins (0-3, 5.40 ERA) has 17 strikeouts on the year.
TEAM STAT COMPARISONS: Mason (30 games played) | Fordham (25 games played)
BATTING
AVG: .274 | .219
OBP: .360 | .287
SLG: .409 | .320
R: 134 | 78
RBI: 112 | 66
HR: 10 | 15
H: 204 | 139
2B: 47 | 17
3B: 12 | 1
PITCHING
ERA: 3.04 | 4.45
SO: 175 | 106
R: 101 | 105
ER: 88 | 80
HR: 12 | 9
2B: 39 | 29
3B: 8 | 8
HISTORY WITH THE LANCER
The last time these two schools met was last season, where Mason lost both games by the score of 0-2 and 2-4 in a Saturday doubleheader. Mason then lost the Sunday game 4-5 in extra innings.
UP NEXT
The Patriots will return home to play on Wednesday, March 5th to play one game against Towson. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
