Box score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason graduate student starter Aly Rayle set the Mason single-season strikeout record and pitched a one-hitter to lead the Patriots to a 7-0 victory over Massachusetts in the final game of the regular season on Saturday at the GMU Softball Complex.

Mason seniors Nicole Bechtel, Desi Hatzakos, Aly Rayle and Haley Taormina were recognized prior to the game.
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-Rayle set the program record for strikeouts in a season with 203.  She broke the record when she struck out the side in the third inning, passing former Patriot Lisa Davis (199 strikeouts in 2000).

-Rayle pitched her second shutout of the weekend, allowing one hit with nine strikeouts.  In two starts against the Rams, Rayle retired 45 of 47 batters including 34 straight over the two games.

-The Patriots finished the regular season with a 31-21 record.  It's the first 30-win season since the 2003 campaign.

-Mason won six of its eight Atlantic 10 series and went 19-6 at home.

-The Patriots recorded their sixth shutout of the season.

Mason (31-20, 16-10 A10) took the lead against UMass (16-34, 7-18 A10) sophomore starter Julianne Bolton in the bottom of the first inning.

Junior second base Marlaina Bozek led off with a single to left and stole second.  Freshman Alena Ball then reached on a fielding error and both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.  Senior third base Haley Taormina followed with a two-run triple to right center to put the Patriots in front, 2-0.

With one out, senior shortstop Rachel Warrens delivered a RBI-single to left field, with Taormina racing home to make it a 3-0 game.

With one out in the bottom of the second, sophomore left fielder Sydney Blackwell singled to center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.  After Bozek walked to put runners on first and second, Ball singled up the middle to drive in Blackwell to increase the lead to 4-0.

UMass senior Jessie DiPasquale took over in the circle in the third.  With one out, Warrens doubled to left and stole third.  After a strikeout, sophomore designated player Jordan Anderson plated a run with a single to center to pad the advantage to 5-0.

In the home half of the sixth, sophomore center fielder Charlotte Montgomery reached on a throwing error, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a ground out.  Ball then walked and stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position.

Taormina reached on a fielding error and Montgomery scrambled home from third on the play to make it 6-0.  Ball would then score from third on a throwing error for the 7-0 final score.

For the Patriots, Rayle (15-8) allowed one hit in 6.2 innings to earn the win.  Junior Carly Cooper recorded the final out of the game.

For the Minutewomen, Bolton (3-13) allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits in 2.0 innings and took the loss.  DiPasquale gave up three runs, one earned, on four hits in 4.0 innings.

Taormina went 1-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored, Warrens was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored and Anderson finished 2-for-3 with one RBI.

The Patriots will compete in the 2023 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship May 10-13 in Bronx, N.Y.