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 against Hofstra, the Patriots tallied eight hits, including a double and a triple, to clinch the win. 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 Maddy Lemasters, increasing the score to 3-0.
Hofstra responded in the fourth inning, scoring three runs with a double by Fitzgerald and a single from 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 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, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits, with 1 earned run, 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. Sobota recorded a triple and drove in two runs, contributing significantly to the offensive effort. Friend added a double and one RBI while finishing with two hits. Auerbach scored twice and collected two hits with one RBI, highlighting her role in advancing runners. Chan tallied two RBIs with a hit, playing a key part in run production. Freshman
Marissa Skinner registered her first career hit.
Game 2: George Mason vs. FDU, L 1-4
In the second game against FDU, the Green & Gold managed to score its lone run in the fourth inning but was unable to overcome FDU's fielding with six fly outs, despite allowing five hits and issued seven walks. The Knights took an early lead in the second inning when Ayden Stone doubled down the left field line and later scored on a single by Dimitra Milonopoulos, making it 1-0.
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 as Zoe Milonopoulos scored on a single by Ayden Stone, 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 6 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs, and 1 earned run while striking out 6 batters and walking 1. Rangel threw 95 pitches, with 63 strikes, and recorded a WHIP of 1.17. Rangel posted strong numbers on the plate with a season-high two hits and one RBI.
Harlowe Nigh made a relief appearance, pitching 1 inning, with 1 hit, 1 run, and 1 earned run, alongside 1 walk and a WHIP of 2.00. Kayleigh Friend made an impact as a pinch hitter, delivering a hit in her only at-bat.
Alyssa Hopkins contributed at the plate by drawing one walk and recording one hit, finishing with an OPS of 1.167.
Madeline Staats also showed discipline at the plate by drawing a walk and adding a hit, resulting in an OPS of 1.167.
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
