GREENVILLE, S.C. - The George Mason softball team (5-4) will return to the road this week, beginning with a recently added midweek matchup against #18 University of Virginia (13-1) before traveling farther south to Greenville, South Carolina to compete in the Paladin Invitational.

PATRIOTS FACE THE CAVALIERS
On Thursday, February 26, the Patriots will face the nationally ranked Cavaliers in Charlottesville, Virginia at Palmer Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m., and the game will be broadcasted on ACCNX. Fans can also follow the action in real time via the live stats website.

The Cavaliers are currently on a 13-game winning streak after dropping their season opener to #9 Arkansas. Macee Eaton paces the lineup with a .523 batting average, collecting 23 hits, 23 RBIs, five doubles, and six home runs. Jade Hylton has scored a team-high 16 runs. In the circle, Courtney Layne has thrown 30.1 innings, recording 36 strikeouts, a 0.92 ERA, and five wins. Eden Bigham has also earned five victories, totaling 21 strikeouts across 21.1 innings with a 1.97 ERA.

FINAL TOURNAMENT ACTION
After the Patriots' first ranked matchup of the season, they head to Furman's Pepsi Stadium to face four opponents at the Paladin Invitational, the last tournament of George Mason's early-season, pre-conference schedule.

The Patriots' tournament schedule and live coverage information are listed below: 
 
Friday, February 27   
6 p.m. vs. Furman | Live Stats | Watch live on ESPN+     
 
Saturday, February 28   
4:30 p.m. vs. West Georgia | Live Stats       
7 p.m. vs. Winthrop | Live Stats    
 
Sunday, March 1   
9:30 a.m. vs. Seton Hall | Live Stats    
 
LAST TIME OUT  
Last weekend, George Mason softball opened their season at home with three straight wins before falling in the final matchup to FDU (1-4). The Patriots shut out Hofstra (6-0) and FDU (8-0, 6 inn.) on the opening day of competition. The Green and Gold then defeated Hofstra again on Saturday, 6-3.

Freshman Alyssa Rangel earned her first Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors after an outstanding two-way performance in her two appearances over the weekend. In two appearances against the FDU Knights in the circle, she tossed 12.0 total innings, while allowing just four walks and recording 13 strikeouts with a 0.58 ERA. Notably, Rangel secured her first collegiate victory with Friday's complete-game shutout versus FDU. Offensively, Rangel posted a .600 batting average, tallying three hits and three RBIs, including driving in the Patriots' lone run in the second game against FDU.

HOME OPENING WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

• Abbey Lane went 2-0 in two appearances, tossing a complete-game shutout against Hofstra in her first outing and later entering in relief to pitch four scoreless innings against the Pride to earn her second win. 
• Tess Altevers Harris blasted her second home run of the season, driving in three runs. 
• Freshman Alyssa Hopkins recorded her first career double. 
• Freshman Marissa Skinner scored her first collegiate run. 
• Jessica Chan delivered her first hit of the season, a two-RBI single.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

Furman (1-13, 0-0 SoCon)
Furman enters the week on a six-game losing streak, with their only win of the season coming in the second game of a doubleheader against Bowling Green on February 12, a 10-4 victory. In that game, Christina McCoy and Katie Peeler each hit a home run each, while Kristyn Embler pitched a complete game, striking out six and allowing three walks. Before hosting the Paladin Invitational, Furman will take on USC Upstate in a doubleheader on Wednesday, February 25.

Offensively, Eden Frederick leads the Paladins with a .389 batting average, 11 runs, 14 hits, and the team's only triple. AB Cipalla tops the team in doubles (4), Sylvia Burroughs leads in RBIs (8), and Katie Peeler has three home runs so far this year – signifying a batting lineup with several key contributors.

In the circle, Furman has a team ERA of 11.51, giving up 161 hits and 76 walks. Kristyn Embler has pitched a team-high 33.1 innings, while Jamison Noonan has pitched 24.2 innings with a team-leading 9.65 ERA.

West Georgia (5-12, 0-0 ASUN)
Heading into the Paladin Invitational, the UWG Wolves are coming off a 13-2 loss to Jacksonville State.  West Georgia fell behind early, giving up six runs in the first inning. The Wolves got on the board in the bottom of the sixth with two runs from Zekylah Boyd and Mickey Coslor. Abigail Helms started in the circle, allowing four runs to all four batters she faced and taking her second loss of the season.

The game prior, West Georgia faced the only other Atlantic 10 team on their schedule – the Loyola Chicago Ramblers - and secured a narrow 3-2 win. All three runs were driven in by Jenna Samuel, while pitcher Abigail Helms earned her first win of the season.

Offensively, Jenna Samuel leads the Wolves with a .480 batting average, 24 hits, five doubles, and 21 RBIs. Ella Oswelt tops the team in runs (15), triples (1), and home runs (5). In the circle, Cacie Cutright leads the team in ERA (5.07) across 38.2 innings with 19 strikeouts, while Delaney Hoyle leads the pitching staff with two wins.

Winthrop (7-7, 0-0 Big South)
Before heading to Greenville, the Winthrop Eagles will host the nationally ranked South Carolina Gamecocks at home on Wednesday, February 25. Last weekend, the Eagles competed in the Coach Cooke Memorial tournament, hosting Drexel, Mount St. Mary's, and George Washington. Winthrop won all four games they played, outscoring opponents 36-15.

Winthrop's matchup against George Washington, one of the Patriots' A-10 rivals, was their closest and lowest-scoring game of the tournament. The Eagles prevailed 4-3. Lonna Addison pitched a complete game, allowing three earned runs with one walk and recording five strikeouts. Trailing until the sixth inning, Winthrop got on the board with an RBI single from Tia Beckham, then added three runs in the seventh to secure the win.

Freshman Rebecca Amos leads the Eagles offensively with a .438 batting average, 16 runs, and 21 hits. Peyton Bryden ranks next in average at .409 and tops the team in RBIs (16) and home runs (5). In the circle, Lonna Addison has pitched the most innings with 37.1, striking out 31 and posting a team-best 3.75 ERA. Emmy Cardenas registers 25.1 innings pitched, a 4.42 ERA, and a 1–3 record.

Seton Hall (1-7, 0-0 Big East)
The Seton Hall Pirates are looking to rebound after last weekend's 23rd Annual Georgia Classic, where they went 0-4. They closed the tournament with two matchups against Utah State , losing 3-8 and 1-3. Naya Martinez scored the Pirates' lone run in the most recent game.

Offensively, Angelina Benitez leads the team with a .346 batting average, six runs, and nine hits. Sophia Demarco tops the team in RBIs (5) and home runs (2) with a .316 batting average.

In the circle, Kyra Kreuscher has logged the most innings (14.1) with a team-best 2.93 ERA and 16 strikeouts. Rachael Schumann has recorded the pitching staff's only win this season. Despite throwing 13.2 innings (second-most), she has issued a team-low six walks. Schumann carries a 9.73 ERA.