AMHERST, Ma.- The #5 La Salle softball team fell 2-1 to #4 George Mason in its opening game of the Atlantic 10 Softball Championship. The Explorers return to action tonight at 5 p.m. in an elimination game and face the loser of the second game of the day between #3 Fordham and #6 St. Bonaventure.
 
La Salle jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to sophomore Christina Bascara. The Second Team All-Conference third baseman connected for a two-out homer to left center field. The homer was her fifth of the season, tying for the team lead.
 
The Patriots battled back in the bottom half of the inning. A leadoff double followed by a single up the middle plated them a run of their own. Freshman McKenzie Peace settled down after that and got out of the inning without further damage. Sophomore Suzanne Swanicke threw out a would be base stealer to help the cause.
 
George Mason grabbed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded and no outs Brooke Blankenship singled to shallow center to score a run. However Peace was able get out of the jam without further damage. With the bases loaded she forced a fielder's choice to second to get the runner at home and then a double play from Bascara to Swanicke to Reis to end the inning.  
 
The Explorers threatened in the fourth inning thanks to back-to-back batters reaching base with two outs. Freshman Valerie Pineiro dropped in a single to center before senior Alicia Aughton drew a walk. However, Casey Herring of forced a groundout to third base to preserve the 2-1 lead.
 
La Salle would also have runners reach in the sixth and seventh inning but nothing came of it. In the seventh inning Aughton singled to right field to lead off the inning. Pinch runner junior Alli Waddington was advanced to second thanks to a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Mackenzie Obert but the Patriots would turn a double play to end the game.
 
Peace was the unlucky loser throwing 6.0 innings allowing one earned run while notching a strikeout.