WHEN: February 22-24, 2024
WHERE: Wilmington, N.C. | Boseman Field
OPPONENTS:
Thurs., Feb. 22 – UNCW, 6 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 23 – Merrimack, 2:30 p.m.; Kent State, 5 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 24 – Providence, 9:30 a.m.; UMBC, 2:30 p.m.

LIVESTATS:
THURSDAY - @ UNCW
FRIDAY - vs. MERRIMACK
FRIDAY - vs. KENT STATE
SATURDAY - vs. PROVIDENCE
SATURDAY - vs. UMBC

WATCH:
THURSDAY - @ UNCW (FLOSPORTS)

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WILMINGTON, N.C. – The George Mason softball team will travel down to Wilmington, N.C. to take on North Carolina at Wilmington, Merrimack, Kent State, Providence and UMBC at the UNCW Tournament. Hosted by UNCW, the three-day tournament will be played at Boseman Field. The Patriots will open the tournament on Thursday, followed by doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.

A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
Last week, Mason played in the Weiler Orthodontics Invitational in Harrisonburg, Va., where they split the weekend tournament. They won both of their Friday games against Lehigh and Villanova and lost their final two games to Villanova and James Madison on the final day.

On Friday's doubleheader, the Patriots won their first game of the season, beating Lehigh in a 1-0 pitchers' duel. Behind a Carly Cooper (1-3, 4.14 ERA) complete game shutout, the senior starting pitcher struck out five Mountain Hawks, while the sole run of the game was scored off a Lehigh throwing error after Rachel Warrens (.381 / .409 / .571) stole second base in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the second game of the evening, the Mason faced off against Villanova, where the Patriots stormed out to a 6-1 lead, thanks to a four-run second inning which included a Sydney Bales (.105 / .190 / .316) home run, a Rachel Warrens RBI double, a Marlaina Bozek (.231 / .222 / .308) RBI sacrifice fly and a Maddy Myers (.292 / .346 / .292) RBI single.

The Wildcats would slowly chip away at the Patriot lead, but they would only get to within one run. Freshman pitcher Kylie Wilkerson (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1 SV) made her collegiate debut in the sixth inning and delivered the Patriots their second win of the season by recording a six-out save.

Due to the cold temperatures on Saturday, the second day of the Invitational was canceled.

On Sunday's doubleheader, Mason matched up with Villanova for the second time. Both teams scored their runs in bunches, but Mason's late-game rally fell short. The Wildcats jumped to a 4-0 lead before sophomore shortstop Kamryn Inman (.200 / .333 / .400) launched her first-carreer home run by hitting a two-run bomb in the bottom of the fifth inning to halve the Villanova lead. After the Wildcats responded with a grand slam in the top of the sixth, the Patriots stormed back in the bottom half of the inning to get within one run. However, the Wildcats iced the game with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to sink the Patriots 10-7.

Sunday's final game was with the tournament host, James Madison. The Dukes methodically scored throughout the evening and eventually shut out the Patriots 7-0.

At the end of two weeks of action, the Patriots hold a 2-6 record.

PATRIOT STAT LEADERS
BATTING
AVG: .381 (8-for-21) - Rachel Warrens
OBP: .409 - Rachel Warrens
SLG: .571 - Rachel Warrens
R: 5 - Rachel Warrens
H: 8 - Rachel Warrens
2B: 2 - Rachel Warrens, Marlaina Bozek
3B: 1 - Rachel Warrens
HR: 1 - Sydney Bales, Kamryn Inman, Logan Pickford
RBI: 5 - Maddy Myers
SB: 4 - Rachel Warrens

PITCHING
ERA: 1.05 - Jordan Anderson 
IP: 23.2 - Carly Cooper
K: 17 - Carly Cooper

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

UNCW Seahawks (5-4)
UNCW went 2-2 last week at the UNF/JU Tournament in Jacksonville, Fla. They opened the tournament losing both games to North Florida in a doubleheader, but they won both of their games to Jacksonville the following day. Their final game of the weekend against Samford was canceled.

Graduate student Skylar Stockton (.500 / .621 / .750) is the team's hottest bat, leading in batting average (.500), runs scored (5) hits (10) and doubles (3). The outfielder is second on the team in RBI (4), just one behind graduate infielder Mary Sobataka (.250 / .333 / .417).  

On the pitching side, both Emily Winstead (2-0, 1.18 ERA) and Kara Hammock (2-2, 2.78 ERA) have been the main pitchers for the Seahawks, having pitched 23.2 and 22.2 innings, respectively.

The Patriots and Seahawks have a long history together, as they were once conference rivals in the then-named Colonial Athletic Association. UNCW currently holds a 14-11 series lead over the Patriots. The last time they faced each other was on March 31, 2013 in Fairfax, when the Patriots won 6-5.

TEAM STAT COMPARISONS: Mason (eight games played) | UNCW (nine games played)
BATTING
AVG: .210 | .217
OBP: .248 | .291
SLG: .295 | .265
R: 25 | 24
H: 44 | 49
2B: 7 | 7
3B: 1 | 2
HR: 3 | 0
RBI: 17 | 20

PITCHING
ERA: 4.20 | 1.99
K: 36 | 27
R: 42 | 21
ER: 32 | 18
H: 72 | 45
2B: 6 | 6
3B: 3 | 1
HR: 8 | 4

FIELDING
FLD: .939 | .969
PO: 160 | 190
A: 54 | 64
E: 14 | 8
 
MERRIMACK WARRIORS (1-4)
This will be Merrimack's second weekend of regular season play. They opened their season two weekends ago in the Bash in The Boro in Statesboro, Ga. The Warriors lost their first four games to Radford and Georgia Southern but won their final game of the weekend to UMass.

Junior utility player Ellen Hubbard (.353 / .389 / .412) leads the team in average and hits (6). Senior outfielder Madison Cerpa (.313 / .389 / .563) is the team's power hitter, leading the Warriors in RBI (2) and has hit the team's only home run.

On the pitching side, graduate student Madie Fornwalt (1-2, 5.13 ERA) has seen the most action with 15.0 innings. She has nine of the team's 11 strikeouts, recorded the team's only win, and has pitched two complete games. Freshman pitcher Cecelia Imbimbo (0-1, 5.42 ERA) is the team's other starter, having logged in 10.1 innings of work.

This will be Mason's first time playing Merrimack in its program's history.

TEAM STAT COMPARISONS: Mason (eight games played) | Merrimack (five games played)
BATTING
AVG: .210 | .234
OBP: .248 | .295
SLG: .295 | .297
R: 25 | 13
H: 44 | 30
2B: 7 | 5
3B: 1 | 0
HR: 3 | 1
RBI: 17 | 10

PITCHING
ERA: 4.20 | 5.83
K: 36 | 11
R: 42 | 29
ER: 32 | 25
H: 72 | 39
2B: 6 | 7
3B: 3 | 1
HR: 8 | 3

FIELDING
FLD: .939 | .956
PO: 160 | 90
A: 54 | 39
E: 14 | 6

KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (3-2)
This will be Kent State's second weekend of softball action, as they did not play last week. The Golden Flashes opened their season two weekends ago at the Elon Softball Classic in North Carolina. They were swept by tournament hosts Elon before winning their final three games of the weekend, beating Evansville twice and winning over Appalachian State with a combined score of 24-10.

Both Emily Lippe (.438 / .500 / .813) and Bri Despines (.438 / .526 / .500) have been seeing the ball well at the plate, with both infielders hitting a team-leading .438 batting average. Lippe leads the team in RBI (9) and home runs (2), while Despines sophomore outfielder Carley Penner (.316 / .316 / .316) and leads the team in runs scored (6). Graduate student Alexandria Whitemore (.400 / .455 / .400) is the team leader in hits (8).

On the pitching side, freshman Megan Nuechterlein) (2-1, 6.08 ERA) has seen the most action with 12.2 innings. The Macomb, Mich., native has recorded two of the team's three wins. Sophomore Macy Irelan (1-0, 2.47 ERA) has the team's other win and leads the staff with eight strikeouts.

This will be Mason's first time playing Kent State in its program's history.

TEAM STAT COMPARISONS: Mason (eight games played) | Kent State (five games played)
BATTING
AVG: .210 | .369
OBP: .248 | .457
SLG: .295 | .470
R: 25 | 37
H: 44 | 55
2B: 7 | 4
3B: 1 | 1
HR: 3 | 3
RBI: 17 | 33

PITCHING
ERA: 4.20 | 5.03
K: 36 | 20
R: 42 | 27
ER: 32 | 23
H: 72 | 35
2B: 6 | 6
3B: 3 | 5
HR: 8 | 4

FIELDING
FLD: .939 | .979
PO: 160 | 96
A: 54 | 42
E: 14 | 3

PROVIDENCE FRIARS (1-4)
Providence opened their season two weekends ago at the Marti Gras Mambo hosted by Southeastern Louisiana, where they went 1-4. The Friars lost their first three games to the Southeastern Louisiana, Louisiana at Monroe and Nocholls before notching their first win of the season to Southern. They lost their final game of weekend to Eastern Illinois by one run.

Freshman infielder/catcher Brianna De La Fuente (.286 / .333 / .429) has driven in the most runs for the Friars with three, while junior infielder Emma Douma (.400 / .400 / .533) leads the team in batting average, hits (6) doubles (2) and total bases (8). Junior infielder Hanna Aldrich (.231 / .286 / .462) and senior utility player Jacque Harrington (.200 / .235 / .400) both lead the team in home runs, having hit one-a-piece.

On the pitching side, sophomore Riley Quirk (0-2, 4.67 ERA) has seen the most action with 12.0 innings, while freshman Alyssa Twomey (0-0, 2.53 ERA) has the second most innings pitched with 8.1. Both Quirk and Twomey have three strikeouts, but junior Jessica Walter (1-0, 2.74 ERA) leads the team with five strikeouts and has recorded the Friars' only win on the season.

The Patriots and the Friars have only met twice before, which were in early-season tournaments. The first time they played each other was on Feb. 20, 2016, when the Patriots lost to the Friars 12-0 in day two of the Madeira Beach Spring Invitational in Florida, and the second time was on Feb. 16, 2020, when the Friars walked-off the Patriots 3-1 at Same Houston State University.

TEAM STAT COMPARISONS: Mason (eight games played) | Providence (five games played)
BATTING
AVG: .210 | .217
OBP: .248 | .283
SLG: .295 | .318
R: 25 | 15
H: 44 | 28
2B: 7 | 5
3B: 1 | 1
HR: 3 | 2
RBI: 17 | 13

PITCHING
ERA: 4.20 | 3.61
K: 36 | 13
R: 42 | 19
ER: 32 | 16
H: 72 | 33
2B: 6 | 5
3B: 3 | 0
HR: 8 | 1

FIELDING
FLD: .939 | .979
PO: 160 | 93
A: 54 | 48
E: 14 | 3

UMBC RETRIEVERS (1-1)
The Retrievers have only played two games this season, which was a doubleheader against Saint Peter's on Feb. 16. UMBC lost the first game 6-5 in nine innings but won the second game 9-1. The Retrievers were supposed to play against Holy Cross and Stony Brook last weekend at the UMBC Round Robin, but both games were canceled.

Freshman Ella Squaires (.750 / .800 / .1.125) currently leads the team in batting average, on-base percentage, hits (6) and doubles (3), while sophomore infielder Emily Riggs (.333 / .333 / .778) leads the team in RBI (6). Riggs also shares the home run lead with senior utility player Ashley Della Guardia (.625 / .667 / .1.125), both having hit one home run.

On the pitching side, juniors Jerzie Nutile (1-0, 0.00) and Kyra Matter (0-0, 2.33 ERA) both share the innings workload with six inning pitched. Nutile recorded a complete game win against Saint Peters, with the only run having been an unearned run.

The Patriots and Retrievers have faced off 12 times and have an even 6-6 record. Their earliest was on March 27, 2003, when the Patriots won 2-1 and 5-3 at home. The most recent game between the two occurred on March 20, 2013, when Mason beat UMBC 5-3 in Fairfax.

TEAM STAT COMPARISONS: Mason (eight games played) | UMBC (two games played)
BATTING
AVG: .210 | .420
OBP: .248 | .487
SLG: .295 | .623
R: 25 | 14
H: 44 | 29
2B: 7 | 8
3B: 1 | 0
HR: 3 | 2
RBI: 17 | 13

PITCHING
ERA: 4.20 | 2.80
K: 36 | 14
R: 42 | 7
ER: 32 | 6
H: 72 | 14
2B: 6 | 0
3B: 3 | 0
HR: 8 | 1

FIELDING
FLD: .939 | .910
PO: 160 | 45
A: 54 | 16
E: 14 | 6

UP NEXT
Mason's home opener will be next week, March 2-3, when they host Stony Brook in a Saturday doubleheader and Cornell in a Sunday doubleheader. Both doubleheaders will be scheduled for noon and 2:30 p.m. first pitches.