WHEN: February 7-8, 2025
WHERE: Lafayette, La. | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park
OPPONENTS:
Fri., Feb. 7 – Longwood, 10:30 a.m.; Seton Hall, 1:00 p.m. 
Sat., Feb. 8 – Longwood, 1:00 p.m.; Louisiana Lafayette, 6:00 p.m.


LIVESTATS:
Vs. Longwood
Vs. Seton Hall (TBA)
Vs. Louisiana Lafayette
 
LAFAYETTE, La. – The George Mason softball team will open the 2025 season at the 39^th Annual Louisiana Classic in Lafayette, Louisiana, this weekend from February 7-8. The tournament hosted by Louisiana Lafayette at Lamson Park will include Longwood, Seton Hall, and Texas.
 
A LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS
In the preseason coaches' poll conducted by the conference's 10 head coaches, the Patriots secured 34 points. Dayton, the 2024 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament champion, claimed the top spot with 98 points. Saint Louis was picked second with 85 points, and Loyola Chicago was picked third with 84 points.

In 2024, the Patriots set two single-season program records: 19 home runs and a .960 fielding percentage. One returning player, Kylie Wilkerson, earned an Atlantic 10 weekly award last season. She was named Rookie of the Week on February 27, 2024
 
Mason is returning 12 players, including senior pitcher Jordan Tallman, who ranked sixth in the Atlantic 10 last season for Earned Runs Allowed with 46. Sophomore pitcher Kylie Wilkerson ended last season with 26 walks allowed, which ranked her first in the Atlantic 10 conference. Junior outfielder Elyssa DeRosa is returning for the Patriots. She finished last season with a career-high of 34 games with a hit and a career-high fielding percentage of .985. Other notable returners are senior outfielder Charlotte Montgomery, junior catcher Logan Pickford, and junior infielder Kamryn Inman.
 
Mason added 10 new Patriots to the roster in the offseason, which include seven freshmen and three transfers. The incoming freshmen are Maddy Johnson, Emma Salzman, Jessica Chan, Kaitlyn Bronowicz, Jasmine Mack, and Madi Sobota. Junior Tess Altevers Harris transferred from Palomar College, junior Meredith Wayland transferred from Gardner-Webb, and Graduate student Kaylee Stinnett transferred from Lane College.
 
Head coach Justin Walker enters the 2025 season in his fifth year at the helm. This will be Walker's eighth year with the Patriots. He will be joined by associate head coach Campbell Hutcherson and newly appointed assistant coach Marlaina Bozek.
 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
 
Louisiana Lafayette (HOST)
2024 record: 45-19, 22-2 Sun Belt Conference
Last season, Louisiana was picked as the No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. They defeated No. 8 James Madison and No. 5 Troy before falling to No. 2 Texas State, 5-9, in the conference championship.
 
The Cajuns had several standout performers, with Mihyia Davis earning Player of the Year, Brooke Ellestad being named Newcomer of the Year, and head coach Gerry Glasco receiving Coach of the Year honors. Louisiana also had three players named to the All-Sun Belt First Team: Brooke Ellestad, Mihyia Davis, and Sam Landry. Additionally, four players earned Second Team All-Sun Belt honors: Sam Roe, Alexa Langeliers, Laney Credeur, and Chloe Riassetto
 
Longwood University
2024 record: 19-33, 11-7 Big South Conference
Last season, Longwood secured the No. 2 seed in the Big South Conference Tournament. They lost their opening game to No. 3 Winthrop but rebounded with a win in an elimination game against Charleston Southern. Ultimately, the Lancers fell to Winthrop, the eventual runner-up, by a score of 3-7.
 
Longwood had three players earn First-Team All-Conference honors: Lauren Fox, Sophia Knock, and Lauren Taylor. Additionally, four players were named to the Second-Team All-Conference: Emily Vinson, Kayley DeVivi, Korynna Anderson, and Maggie Chapin. Cierra Gawryluk and Maggie Hiatt earned All-Freshman Team honors, while Korynna Anderson received All-Academic honors.
 
Seton Hall University
2024 record: 27-23, 14-10 Big East Conference
Last season, Seton Hall earned the No. 4 seed in the Big East Conference Tournament. They lost to No. 5 St. John's, 7-2, and were ultimately eliminated by No. 6 Butler, 9-0.
 
The Pirates' own Katey Brennan was named Freshman of the Year, and three players earned First-Team All-Big East honors: Katey Brennan, Kelsey Carr, and Olivia Gilbert.
 

UP NEXT
After this weekend's tournament, the Patriots will be on the road again next week (Feb 14-16), traveling to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for another tournament. The Tar Heel Invitational, hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will feature games against Princeton, Drexel, and UNC.
 
George Mason's home opener will be February 22-23, when they host St. Francis University and Niagara University for doubleheaders.