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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – La Salle softball took a big step towards achieving a berth to the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, sweeping a doubleheader against red-hot George Mason at West Campus Field. The Explorers outlasted the Patriots 2-0 in the opener, as two of the conference's very best pitchers squared off. The Blue and Gold woke the bats up in game two, blasting five home runs to rout George Mason 8-0 in five innings.
 
"What else can one possibly say but wow," head coach Ron Shoemaker remarked. "George Mason had won seven of eight coming in here, just swept GW, and we came out here and threw two shutouts, scored all those runs, everybody on the team came to compete today and I couldn't be prouder."
 
The opener promised to be an epic pitchers duel, as both teams sent their respective aces to the circle. Alicia Aughton entered the weekend with the second best earned run average in the Atlantic 10, while George Mason starter Anna Blessing ranked just behind her with the third best mark. Alicia Aughton (W, 8-7) got the best of Blessing on this day, stifling the Atlantic 10's top offense over seven flawless innings. She finished with only five hits allowed, while she fanned three batters. The Patriots never pushed a runner past second base.
 
"They were playing really great defense, so I was confident no matter where the ball was hit they would make the play for me," Aughton said. "I just tried to keep it simple and keep both sides of softball separate. Focusing on pitching when I am out in the circle, and getting into the mindset to hit when I am in the batters box."
 
Blessing was equal to the task though, stifling the Explorers through five strong innings of work.
 
Megan Hodgson (1-3, HR, 2RBI) provided just enough offense for the Explorers in the opener. The senior had been scuffling at the dish in recent weeks – going just 1-for-13 over her last six games entering the weekend – but she came through in the clutch moments in the opener. After Linnette Siedler (1-3, R) led off the inning with a single up the middle, Hodgson launched a two-run homer in the sixth inning to put the Explorers ahead.
 
"I had been struggling over recent games, but I think that hit really helped me get my swing back," Hodgson said. "I was happy I could help out the team to get the win."
 
The Explorers (14-14; 6-2 A-10) were swinging the bats right off the hop in game two. Michelle Hagarty (3-3, 2HR, 2RBI, 2R) led off the game with towering solo-shot to left center – her first of two homers on the day – to send the Blue and Gold off and running.
"I was feeling really confident with my swing today," Hagarty said. "Since I am the leadoff, everyone sort of builds off what I can do at the plate, so I was happy I could help out the team to start off the game with the home run."
 
The Hagarty homers would be all the support starter Mary Cate Scott (W, 6-7) would need, as she picked up right where Aughton left off. She stymied the Patriots, allowing only five hits and one walk through five scoreless frames. She also whiffed three Patriot hitters to notch her sixth victory of the year.
 
With the two shutouts today, it marked the first time this season that the powerful George Mason (15-16; 3-5 A-10) offense had been held off the scoreboard in consecutive games.
 
Alicia Aughton (2-2, HR, 2RBI, R) provided some thunder with the bat in game two, launching her third homer of the year – a two-run shot in the second - to give the Explorers some insurance. Emily Moran (1-2, HR, 2RBI) also added a two-run tater, while freshman Suzanne Swanicke (1-3, HR, 2RBI) joined the party with her first career homer – a two-run bomb to left center – to walk-off the Patriots in fifth.
 
The Explorers have a quick turnaround, as they will face off against city rival Drexel at 3:30 on Tuesday. After the non-conference tilt with the Dragons, the Blue and Gold will have their biggest home stand of the year as they welcome Massachusetts and Rhode Island for two games apiece over Easter weekend.