BRONX, N.Y. – After a few pregame rain delays, the George Mason softball team (18-13, 5-2 A-10) were able to get at least one game in today. The Patriots rallied in the late innings to beat conference opponent Fordham (10-16, 2-2 A-10) by the score of 3-1 in Saturday afternoon's lone matchup.

This is the team's third overall win against Fordham; it is also the first time Mason has beaten Fordham in New York, and the first win against the Rams since March 31, 2019.

MASON BY THE NUMBERS

• Catcher Nicole Bechtel (1-4, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI, 1 HR) hit her first home run of the season in the top of the sixth inning. The redshirt catcher extended her hitting streak to eight games.
• Starting pitcher Aly Rayle (8-4, 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 SO) pitched her fifth complete game win of the season. The graduate student fanned seven Rams and allowed zero walks on 121 pitches.
• First baseman Maddy Myers (1-3, 1 RBI) and right fielder Sydney Bales (0-1, 1 RBI) each contributed with one RBI on the day as well, both coming in the sixth inning.

MASON 3, FORDHAM 1
Today's game featured a pitchers' duel between Mason's Rayle and Fordham's Devon Miller (3-5, 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 SO), who also pitched a complete game. Both pitchers and defenses held each other scoreless in the first five innings of the game.  

The Patriots were threatening to score first in the top of the second inning. After Elyssa DeRosa (2-2, 1 R) led the inning off with a single down the right field line, both Zoe Vozick (0-2) and Sydney Bales were able to draw walks. With the bases loaded and only one out, Miller and the Rams were able to get out of the early jam with a force out at home the next at bat, followed by a lineout to short on a full count.

The ensuing innings went by rather quickly, with many batters on both teams flying out or grounding out within the first three pitches of their at bats.

The Rams would strike first in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a leadoff single by Sarah Taffet and a sacrifice bunt that advanced her to second, Michaela Carter hit a single to left center, scoring Taffet. The bases would later be loaded with two outs, but Aly Rayle would be able to get out of the inning with a three-pitch strikeout. 

At the top of the sixth, catcher Nicole Bechtel led off the inning with a homer to left center on a 2-0 count. This was Bechtel's first home run of the season and second of her Mason career. Her last home run was almost exactly a year ago, against Dayton on April 2, 2022.

Two more Patriot runs would score in the bottom of the sixth. After shortstop Rachel Warrens (1-4, 1 R) hit a double to right center and DeRosa drew a walk, Maddy Myers singled to left field, scoring Warrens from second and advancing DeRosa to third. Junior right fielder Sydney Bales hit a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing in DeRosa and the third run of the inning.

Aly Rayle and the Patriot defense were able to stifle the Rams' offense in both the sixth and seventh innings to secure the win, going 1-2-3 in both frames.

UP NEXT
The Patriots will finish up the series with a Sunday doubleheader starting at noon. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+. Game One can be seen here, while Game Two can be seen here.