FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason Softball (5-4) went 1-1 on the final day of its home opening weekend at the GMU Softball Complex, defeating the Hofstra Pride (1-7), 6-3, before dropping a 4-1 decision to the FDU Knights (1-7). The Patriots won three games in a row to open their season in Fairfax prior to the loss in the final game of the weekend.
Game 1: George Mason vs. Hofstra, W 6-3
In the first game of the day, the Patriots tallied eight hits, including a double and a triple, to clinch the win against Hofstra. George Mason took the lead in the second inning when
Logan Pickford singled to left field and advanced to second on an error.
Kaleigh Friend then hit a double, allowing Pickford to score an unearned run, making it 1-0 at the end of the inning. The third inning saw the Patriots extend their lead with a two-RBI triple from
Madi Sobota, driving in
Payton Auerbach and
Maddie Lemasters, increasing the score to 3-0.
Hofstra responded in the fourth inning, scoring three runs with a double by Mackenzie Fitzgerald and a single from Nicole Cancel. However, the Patriots countered in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs. Auerbach's single allowed
Marissa Skinner, who was pinch running, to score, followed by a two-RBI single from
Jessica Chan, bringing the score to 6-3 by the end of the fourth. This marked Skinner's first career run and Chan's first hit of the season. The remaining innings were scoreless, and George Mason maintained its lead.
Freshman
Bri Lencz pitched a season-high 3 innings, with 2 earned runs, while striking out 1 batter and walking none.
Abbey Lane entered in relief, pitching 4 innings without allowing a run, conceding only 2 hits and striking out 1 batter. Lane earned her third win of the season.
Game 2: George Mason vs. FDU, L 1-4
In the second game of the day, the Green & Gold managed just one run in the fourth inning against FDU. Despite tallying five hits and drawing seven walks, the Patriots couldn't capitalize, leaving nine runners stranded and recording six flyouts that stalled potential rallies.
The Knights struck first in the second inning when Ayden Stone doubled down the left-field line and later scored on a single by Dimitra Milonopoulos to take a 1–0 lead.
In the fourth inning, FDU extended its lead to 2-0 with an RBI double. The Patriots responded in the bottom of the fourth, with
Kamryn Inman scoring an unearned run on a single by
Alyssa Rangel, closing the gap to 2-1. FDU added another unearned run in the sixth inning, pushing the lead to 3-1. In the seventh inning, FDU sealed its victory with a final run, concluding the scoring at 4-1.
Alyssa Rangel pitched six innings, with only one earned run while striking out six batters and walking one. Rangel threw 95 pitches, with 63 strikes, and recorded a WHIP of 1.17. Rangel also posted strong numbers on the plate, going 2-for-3.
Harlowe Nigh made a relief appearance, pitching one inning, with one earned run, alongside one walk.
Kaleigh Friend made an impact as a pinch hitter, delivering a hit in her only at-bat. Freshmen
Alyssa Hopkins and
Madeline Staats contributed at the plate by drawing one walk and recording one hit each.
With the weekend complete, George Mason will travel to Greenville, S.C., to compete in the Paladin Invitational hosted by Furman from Friday, February 27, through Sunday, March 1.
The Patriots' tournament schedule next weekend is as follows:
Friday, February 27
6 p.m. vs. Furman
Saturday, February 28
4:30 p.m. vs. West Georgia
7 p.m. vs. Winthrop
Sunday, March 1
9:30 a.m. vs. Seton Hall
