MASON BY THE NUMBERS

• Haley Taormina (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI) had a game-high 2 RBI. She hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning and later hit an RBI double in the third inning.
• Aly Rayle (7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) pitched her second consecutive complete game win of the tournament. She now has 21 strikeouts this week.
• Rachel Warrens (2-3, 1 R) had the best average and on-base percentage (.667), as well as the biggest defensive stop of the game in the bottom of the first inning.
• The Patriot defense limited the Billikens' time at the plate, going 1-2-3 in five of the seven innings.

MASON 5, SAINT LOUIS 2
A combination of solid Mason hitting, Billiken fielding errors and a stifling Mason defense played a part in the Patriots' wire-to-wire victory in Wednesday's quarterfinal game.

The Patriots first scored in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs and a full count, Haley Taormina stepped up to the plate and hit a booming solo home run over the left field wall, giving the Patriots an early 1-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the first, the Billikens seemed to have set themselves up for a productive inning. Saint Louis opened the inning with a double, walk, passed ball and infield single, loading the bases with nobody out. The Patriots were finally able to secure the first out with a foul out to left fielder Sydney Blackwell (0-3, 1 R, 1 RBI), whose throw to home was on line to the catcher Nicole Bechtel (0-2, 1 BB), which prevented any chance of a Billiken tag and score from third. Rayle would secure the second out with a strike out, followed by a Rachel Warrens run-preventing, inning-ending diving play to get Rayle and Patriots out of an early jam.

After loading the bases to start the game, Rayle and the defense would retire the next 12 batters in order.

Haley Taormina would provide the Patriots with another RBI in the top of the third inning, this time in the shape of an RBI double. With two outs, center fielder Alena Ball (1-4, 1 R) hit an infeld single to second, which gave a chance for Taormina to capitalize on the opportunity. This time on a 1-0 count, the NCAA and conference leader in doubles plugged the gap in right center, scoring Alena Ball all the way from first. At the end of three, the Patriots were up 2-0.

The Patriots added three more runs in the top of the fourth. Rachel Warrens led off with a single to left center, followed by a Maddy Myers (1-3) infield single to short. Logan Pickford (1R) would later pinch run for Myers at first. After a productive out by Jordan Anderson (0-3) advanced both Patriots to scoring position, Sydney Blackwell put the ball in play with an inside out swing and reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Rachel Warrens. Logan Pickford would also score, as the Billiken second baseman committed a throwing error. This allowed Blackwell to advance to second. Later in the inning, Marlaina Bozek (1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI) hit a double through the left side, scoring Blackwell. The Patriots were up 5-0 against the #1 seed Billikens.

The Billikens would get two runs in the bottom of the fifth by way of three doubles. Ashley Marietta led the inning off with a double to right field. Grace Kmak would then pinch run for her. After a Joceyln Abbot pop out at third by Haley Taormina, Cami Newbanks hit a double to right field, scoring Kmak. After a Chloe Rhine foul out to the catcher Nicole Bechtel, Natalie Sullivan hit a double that sailed over Ball in center, scoinrg Newnanks. The Patriot defense, however, was able to relay the ball back to the infield in time to tag Sullivan who was sliding into third, ending the inning.

The Patriot defense locked down and prevented any chance of a late-game rally by getting Saint Louis to go 1-2-3 in the final two innings of the game.

UP NEXT

The #4 Patriots will take on winner of Game #5 of the tournament (#2 Loyola Chicago vs. #3 Dayton) tomorrow, May 12, at noon. It can be watched on ESPN+ here and followed on Livestats here.