BRONX, N.Y. – The #4 George Mason softball team (34-21, 16-10 A-10) shutout #2 Loyola Chicago (25-22, 11-10 A-10) in Friday's Atlantic 10 semifinal game by the score of 3-0. The Patriots advance to the Tournament final for the first time in program history and await the winner of the other side of the bracket.

MASON BY THE NUMBERS

• Haley Taormina (2-3, R, HR, 2 RBI) hit her second consecutive first inning home run of the tournament. In the tournament, she currently leads the team in average (.556), hits (5), RBI (4) and tied for the lead in home runs along with Maddy Myers (2)
• Aly Rayle (7.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 7 K) pitched her third consecutive complete game victory and second complete game shutout this tournament. The A-10 Pitcher of the Year strikeouts leader now has 28 strikeouts this tournament
• Maddy Myers (1-3, R, HR, RBI) hit her second home run of the tournament. She is second on the team in average (.375), hits (3), RBI (2) and tied for the lead in home runs

MASON 3, LOYOLA CHICAGO 0
Similar to yesterday's quarterfinal game, the Patriots hit a first inning home run to take the lead and never looked back. The game began with a Marlaina Bozek (1-2, R) leadoff walk. Up to bat next was Haley Taormina, who hit her second first inning home run in as many days, sending the ball over the wall in left center field. With nobody out, the Patriots had taken an early 2-0 lead.

The final run of the game came later in the inning by way of another home run. This time, it was Maddy Myers who hit her second of the tournament. With two outs remaining in the first, Myers barreled what seemed to be an off-the-wall double to left center. After a brief umpires meeting in the infield, it was determined that the ball had in fact hit the top of the wall, indicating that it was a home run. Myers is now tied with Taormina with most home runs on the team this tournament.

Mason's pitcher Aly Rayle pitched her third consecutive complete game of the tournament. She started the game retiring the first nine batters in a row and ultimately finished the game allowing no runs or walks and having struck out seven Ramblers.

Rayle had tremendous defense behind her all game, especially in the bottom of the third inning. Loyola flared a shot to shallow right, junior Sydney Bales charged in and made a diving catch to keep the Ramblers off the bases. Later in the sixth, Rachel Warrens made a diving catch of her own to keep a Rambler ball from dropping in the infield.

The Ramblers threatened to score in the game's final frame. A leadoff double and single to shallow left put runners on the corners with nobody out. Unphased, Rayle in the Patriots managed to pitch around the late game jam. First Loyola popped up to Rachel Warrens in short, preventing the runners from tagging up. Then, Aly Rayle finished the game by striking out the final two batters.

UP NEXT

The #4 Patriots will take on winner of the loser's bracket, which still consists of #1 Saint Louis, #2, Loyola Chicago and #3 Dayton. Once the final two games on that side of the bracket are completed, the championship game will be held the following day on May 13 at noon. It can be watched on ESPN+ here and it will be on Livestats here.