FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (29-17, 14-6 A-10) walked-off Georgetown (15-28, 8-10 Big East) in the tenth inning of Wednesday's game at the George Mason Sofball Complex. Mason improved their record to 29-17 and have officially finished their non-conference portion of the 2023 season. The Patriots went 15-11 in non-conference games, going 8-3 at home, 0-6 on the road and 7-2 on neutral sites.
 

MASON BY THE NUMBERS

• Nicole Bechtel (1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI) batted in the game-winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning. She has recorded an RBI for the fourth consecutive game.

• Marlaina Bozek (1-3, 2 RBI) led the team in RBI today, batting in both of her runs off sacrifice flies to right field.

• Alexandra Anderson (4.0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB) won her fifth game of the season. She has now won her last three decisions in the circle.

MASON 3, GEORGETOWN 2 (10 innings)
Wednesday's game saw the Patriots reach the tenth inning for the second time this season, with the last time happening back on March 4. Both starting pitchers on the day pitched well but ultimately finished with no-decisions. Mason's Carly Cooper (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) only gave up one run and retained her 5-4 record, while Georgetown's Avery Wissmar (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) gave up one run as well and retained her 0-3 record.

The first run of the game was scored in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Sydney Bales (1-4, 2 R) led the inning off with a single to left and later stole second, Charlotte Montgomery (1-3) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the Patriot over to third. The Patriots went to the top of the order with Marlaina Bozek, who hit a sacrfice fly to right field. After Georgetown's Gianna Sciullo (1-4, 1 RBI) made a diving catch, Bales tagged up and scored, giving the Patriots a 1-0 advantage.

The Hoyas would answer immediately, however. With one Hoya on first base because of a four-pitch walk, Georgetown would hit two singles in a row. The second single, hit by Sciullo, drove in the game-tying run from second base.

The game would remain tied for the next three innings. In that time, Mason put in Alexandra Anderson as their relief pitcher and Georgetown put in Brooke Plonka (4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K).

After neither team could score a run in the eighth and ninth innings, a runner was added to second base at the start of the tenth. With Morgan Zamora (0-5, 1 R) placed on second, Mae Forshey (1-5, 1 RBI), hit a double to right field, scoring Zamora. Forshey would then overslide third base, giving the Patriots' Haley Taormina (1-4, 1 R) an opportunity to tag the Hoya out. It proved to be beneficial for the Patriots, as the next Hoya would hit a single that would harmlessly land into right field. The Patriots would get out of the inning only surrendering the lone run.

In the bottom of the tenth, Mason had Sydney Bales placed on second. After a productive Montgomery ground out moved Bales over to third, Marlaina Bozek lifted her second sacrifice fly of the day. Just like in the fifth inning, Georgetown's right fielder caught the ball and Bales tagged up and ran home. The Patriots were tied with the Hoyas 2-2.

Up to bat was Haley Taormina, who drew a walk on a full count. Next was Nicole Bechtel, who, on a 0-1 count, ripped a fair ball down the left field line. Taormina sped around the bases and scored the winning run, walking off the Hoyas after a ten-inning, two hour and forty-nine minute afternoon game.

UP NEXT

The Patriots will travel to Saint Louis to face off against the Billikens in a three-game weekend series. The Billikens are currently in second in A-10 standings while the Patriots are third. The Saturday doubleheader and the Sunday finale will start at 1 p.m. EDT/Noon CDT.