FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (11-23, 3-6 A-10) lost their final game of the series against Fordham (14-19-1, 5-4 A-10) 3-1 at the George Mason Softball Complex. The Rams hand the Patriots their third consecutive Atlantic 10 series loss.

PATRIOT HIGHLIGHTS

• Mason and Fordham were locked in a pitchers' duel, as both starters went the distance.

• Fordham broke the tie in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI double. They would score one run in each of the last two innings with solo home runs.

• The Patriots had two shots that were close to being home runs. Maddy Myers' first inning foul just missed the pole, and Logan Pickford's center field shot was robbed by the Fordham outfielder.

• Emily Lampela drove in Mason's first run in the bottom of the seventh inning with an RBI single.

•  The Patriots loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Fordham was able to get out of the final inning with a foul out.

• The Patriot defense did not commit a single error throughout the three-game series

GEORGE MASON 1, FORDHAM 3
Both starting pitchers fought in a Saturday pitchers' duel, as Carly Cooper (7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 K) and Devon Miller (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB 9 K) went the distance. Cooper struck out five and surrendered zero walks, while Miller struck out nine and was pitching a perfect game through three and two-thirds innings.

Mason was close to jumping to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Maddy Myers (2-3) hit a high-arching ball towards the left foul pole. However, the ball went left of the pole and was called foul. Other than that one dangerous ball, Fordham's starting pitcher retired the Patriots in order for the next three innings, picking up seven of her nine strikeouts along the way.

In the top of the third, third baseman Kamryn Inman (0-2) made a quick reaction in the hot corner to get the first out of the inning.

Top 3rd | Mason 0, Fordham 0

SCOOP! @KamrynInman2022 with the quick reflexes on the very first pitch of the inning!#Team47???? pic.twitter.com/pGcYBZooFR

— Mason Softball (@MasonSoftball) March 30, 2024

The Rams broke the deadlock in the top of the fifth on a close play at the plate involving Gianna Sarlo (1-3, R, 2B) and catcher Logan Pickford (0-2). With Sarlo on second, Kate McGuire (2-3, R, 2 RBI, HR) hit a single to right. Right fielder Elyssa DeRosa (0-3) threw the ball back to Pickford in time, but Sarlo managed to touch home just before the tag was applied.

Fordham would score one run in both the sixth and seventh innings with solo home runs. The sixth inning homer was hit by Sydney Wells (1-2, R, RBI, HR) and the seventh inning shot was hit by McGuire, who recorded her second RBI on the day. On the defensive side, center fielder Michaela Carter (0-2) made home run-saving catch in straightaway center to rob a potential Pickford home run.

The Patriots mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh. With runners on the corners, Emily Lampela (1-3, RBI) hit an RBI single through the right side, which scored Marlaina Bozek (0-2, R, BB) from third and moved DeRosa to second. Then, after pinch hitter Zoe Vozick (0-0, BB) drew a walk to load the bases, Maya McGowan (0-1) came up to the plate to take her first at-bat of the season. On the very first pitch, McGowan swung and made solid contact with the ball; however, the ball fell into foul territory and was caught by left fielder Neleh Nogay (1-3) to end the game.

UP NEXT
The Patriots will play at George Washington this Tuesday, April 2 in a doubleheader. First pitch for Game One is scheduled for noon, with Game Two scheduled for 2:30 p.m., or 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game One.