FAIRFAX, VA – Despite a first inning rally, the Hofstra softball team fell just short against the George Mason University Patriots 7-4 on Sunday, March 8, at the George Mason Softball Complex.

Marina Vitalich, starting pitcher for George Mason, got off to a rocky start as a leadoff triple from Jaycee Ruberti led to an RBI single by Kasey Collins to give the Pride a quick 1-0 lead. Collins stole second to put her in scoring position and Alexis Goeke shot an RBI single down the right field line to put the Pride up 2-0. Later in the inning, Madison McKevitt scored Goeke with an RBI double to extend the lead to 3-0.

Natalie Grubczak started for Hofstra after getting her first win of the season on Saturday against Buffalo. Meghan Graham walked to start the inning and a fielder’s choice would move her to second. Amelia Ely’s RBI single up the middle cut the deficit to 3-1.In the bottom of the second, Nikki Mullin took the mound and the Patriots tacked on one more run thanks to an infield RBI single by Saige Cisler, cutting Hofstra’s lead to one.

Jordan Pietrzykoski singled down the right field line to start the third and stole second to put herself in scoring position. Meghan Giordano and McKevitt both reached base on an error and a fielder’s choice, respectively. With Alexa Corben at the plate, a wild pitch by Vitalich scored Pietrzykoski to give Hofstra a 4-2 lead. Corben struck out afterward and left two runners on to end the inning.

Mullin pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half of the third. Vitalich followed up with a 1-2-3 inning of her own in the top of the fourth. Marissa Butts’ infield RBI single scored Rachel Warrens in the bottom of the fourth and made it 4-3 Hofstra.

Bekah Ansbro took the mound in the fifth for Vitalich, who finished her afternoon with four earned runs, six hits and four strikeouts. Ansbro pitched a quick fifth inning, followed by Mullin, who also got out of the inning quickly. Ansbro continued to pitch well in the top of the sixth, only allowing one baserunner.

The Patriots’ bats came alive in the bottom of the sixth. Warrens reached base on an error by Chelsea Manto to start the inning. After advancing to third on a fielder’s choice, she scored on an RBI single by Butts to tie the game at 4. Mullin’s afternoon was over as Madison Burns came in to provide some relief. Mullin finished with one earned run, six hits and two strikeouts. Burns loaded the bases for George Mason and they capitalized with a two-RBI single by Adriana Erickson to give them a 6-4 lead. A sacrifice fly by Ely scored another run to extend the lead to 7-4. A strikeout by Sydnee Wells stopped the bleeding and gave the Pride one last opportunity to come back.

Ruberti hit her second triple of the game with hopes to start a rally, but that was not enough as the Pride fell to the Patriots 7-4 and dropped their second straight game.

This was the last game of the George Mason Invitational, during which Hofstra won only one of their four games. The Pride split a doubleheader on Saturday, beating the University at Buffalo Bulls before losing to the Cornell University Big Red.

George Mason won all four games on their home turf, the most recent win coming earlier in the day against Buffalo.

The Pride is back in action on Tuesday, March 10, for their home opener at Bill Edwards Stadium against the University of Connecticut Huskies. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics