WHEN: February 14-16, 2025
WHERE: Chapel Hill, N.C. | Anderson Softball Stadium
OPPONENTS:
Fri., Feb. 14 – Drexel, 10:00 a.m.; UNC, 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 15 – Drexel, 11:00 a.m.; Princeton, 4:00 p.m.
Sun., Feb 16 – Princeton, 10:00 a.m.

LIVESTATS:
Vs. Drexel 
Vs. UNC 
Vs. Princeton
 
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The George Mason softball team travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Feb. 14-16 for the Tar Heel Invitational. The tournament hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at Anderson Softball Stadium will include Princeton, Drexel, and UNC.
 
A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
In the first tournament of the season, the Patriots went 1-3 through the weekend. On day one, George Mason dropped their first game against Longwood 3-4 in extra innings and beat Seton Hall 7-2 to pick up the first win of the season. On day two, the Patriots dropped both games, one to Longwood 5-7 and then Louisiana 1-9.
 
LOUISIANA CLASSIC HIGHLIGHTS

• Abbey Lane picked up her first career win in the pitcher's circle (7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1BB) in the Patriots' first win of the season against Seton Hall
• Maddy Johnson hit her first two career doubles against Longwood
• Charlotte Montgomery had five hits and five putouts through the weekend
• Tess Altevers Harris got her first two career hits in a George Mason uniform against Longwood, along with two RBIs
• Kaitlyn Bronowicz and Kaylee Stinnett got their first career hits

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
 
Princeton University
2024 record: 30-18, 14-7 Ivy League Conference
Last season, Princeton was picked as the No. 1 seed in the Ivy League Conference Tournament. The Tigers beat Harvard 1-0 in an if-necessary game to win the Ivy League championship.
 
In 2024, Princeton had three players earn First-Team All-Conference honors: Sonia Zhang, Lauren Sablone, and Julia Dumais. Additionally, Sophia Marsalo earned Second-Team All-Conference honors, and Allison Ha got an honorable mention. Head coach Lisa Van Ackeren was named Coach of the Year.
 
Drexel University
2024 record: 15-30, 10-16 Coastal Athletic Association
Last season, Drexel ended their season playing Elon in Elon, North Carolina. They dropped all three games against the Phoenix. Their biggest wins of the year were against eventual CAA Tournament Champions, The University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW), beating them in a three-game series 2-1.
 
Drexel had one player earn First-Team All-Conference honors in 2024: senior outfielder Grace Abbonizio. She also earned All-Region Honors for the Northeast Region.
 
So far this season, the Dragons have played in the Runnin' Bulldog Classic in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, where they lost to West Georgia, Howard, and Gardner-Webb.
 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2024 record: 30-20, 10-14 Atlantic Coast Conference
Last season, UNC earned the No. 7 seed in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. They ultimately lost to No. 10 Notre Dame, 4-7, ending their season. The Tarheels had two players that earned Second Team All-ACC honors: Autumn Owen and Abby Settlemyre. Additionally, Sanna Thompson earned All-Freshman Team honors last season.


UP NEXT
The George Mason Softball team opens at home on February 22-23 with their first tournament of the season at the George Mason Softball Complex. The Patriots have a doubleheader on the 22^nd against Saint Francis starting at noon and another doubleheader on the 23^rd against Niagara starting at noon.
 
PROMOTION - The George Mason Softball team will have a canned food drive for their first home tournament, and each player will honor someone they play for.