PHILADELPHIA – La Salle softball senior ace Mary Cate Scott pitched 12 full innings, striking out 11, to lead La Salle to a 2-1 win over George Mason in extra innings.  The win was the 33^rd of Scott's career, placing her tied with Janice McGinty ('99) for fourth all-time in La Salle softball history.
 
"I think this win gave us good momentum today," Scott said. "We need to get back on a winning streak and I think that with today's win we are set up to succeed the rest of the weekend. "

With one out in the bottom of the first, junior Mackenzie Obert sent a line drive over the left field fence to put the Explorers ahead of the Patriots early, 1-0.  The Explorers wouldn't score again until junior Michelle Hagarty hit a textbook sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 12^th to bring in teammate Kendra Heyer for the winning run.
 
Stellar pitching by Scott would preserve the 1-0 lead until the top of the fourth, when George Mason sophomore Liz Seymour tagged a ball just inside the chalk down the right field line to earn a leadoff triple.   Sophomore Jess Middleton would single to bring home Seymour and tie the game at one apiece.  Scott would force the next three batters to ground out, pop out and foul out, respectively, to get out of the jam. 
 
The Patriots threatened again in the top of the ninth when Middleton hit a one-out double and freshman Samantha Zaccari followed it up with a single.  With runners on first and third with one out, Scott dug in her heels and went to work.  Scott struck out Brooke Sullivan on a change up and fielded a weak ground ball from Heather Ferguson to end the inning.
 
After three scoreless innings, Heyer singled up the middle with one out in the bottom of the 12^th to ignite a chain reaction of fundamental softball from her teammates.  Obert laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt and reached on a throwing error by George Mason, advancing Heyer to third. Hagarty stepped to the plate and sent a high fly ball just feet from the fence in left center field to score Heyer and secure the walk-off win.
 
"That was a top-to-bottom 'team win'," said head coach Ron Shoemaker.  "I believe Mary Cate may have punched me if I tried to take her out of that game."
 
"The team played great today," added Scott. "I am excited to see what is in store for us the rest of the season."
 
The Explorers will round out the series with the Patriots tomorrow, playing a double header beginning at 12 p.m. at West Campus Field on La Salle University's campus.  Live stats will be available through GoExplorers.com.