FAIRFAX, Va. – The Hofstra University softball team held an advantage through three innings but ultimately fell to the George Mason Patriots in the final day of the Mason Invitational, 7-4.
 
Sophomore Jaycee Ruberti and sophomore Madison McKevitt each tallied a pair of hits on the afternoon. Ruberti finished 2-for-4 at the plate with two triples while McKevitt went 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI. Sophomore Kasey Collins had an RBI single, and freshman Jordan Pietrzykoski, senior Alexis Goeke, and freshman Chelsea Manto all recorded base hits.
 
The Pride burst on to the scene, plating three runs in on four hits in the top of the first inning. Ruberti led off the inning with a triple before Collins reached on an infield single to shortstop, scoring Ruberti. Goeke singled down the right field line to send Collins home and two batters later, McKevitt drove in Goeke with a double to left center.
 
George Mason responded with one run on a two-out single in the bottom of the first and added another run one inning later with an infield single, making it a 3-2 game.
 
Pietrzykoski led off the third with a base hit down the left field line before eventually capitalizing on a George Mason wild pitch, increasing Hofstra's lead to 4-2.
 
The Patriots added another run on an infield single before tacking on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth, taking a 7-4 lead over the Pride. Ruberti drilled a one-out triple in the seventh, but the Patriots shut the Pride down with two-straight outs to end the contest.
 
George Mason's Beka Ansbro (3-3) pitched three innings in relief and earned the win. For Hofstra, freshman Nikki Mullin (1-6) suffered the loss after surrendering three runs, including two earned. Freshman Natalie Grubczak got the start, pitched 1.2 total innings and struck out two batters.
 
Hofstra drops to 3-14 on the season while George Mason improves to 7-11.
 
Hofstra will return to New York and will play in its home opener against the University of Connecticut on Tuesday, March 10 at 2 p.m. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Bill Edwards Stadium.
 
NOTES:
-Meghan Giordano led Hofstra with a .385 batting average this weekend (five hits)
-Kasey Collins also recorded five hits for Hofstra (.357)
-Hofstra hit six triples across four games
-Pietrzykoski tallied a team-high six RBI while Giordano added four with her grand slam against Buffalo