FAIRFAX, Va. - Lafayette softball dropped both ends of a Tuesday doubleheader with George Mason. Game one went down to the final inning before GMU captured a 3-2 final. In the second game, the Leopard bats got hot early, before the hosts turned the momentum and picked up a 9-4 decision, 

The Patriots opened game one with an early 2-0 advantage. In the bottom of the first, George Mason's Maddie Lemasters poked a single through the right side to pick up a pair of runs. With two out and runners on the corners, Maggie Klug caught the Patriots' attempting to steal and threw out her second baserunner of the frame. Lafayette starter Makayla Lecky allowed two runs on two hits while leaving two runners on base.

Lecky and the Leopard defense settled down in innings two and three. In the second, George Mason threatened to score with one out and runners on first and third. GMU's Logan Pickford flew out to Ava Butler in right field. George Mason baserunner Abbey Labe tagged up, but Butler cut her down for the second out of an inning-ending double play.

The Maroon and White turned in two quick outs via ground balls in the bottom of the third frame. Lemasters came to the plate once again and knocked a ball into right field. After making the turn at second, Lemasters attempted to take third base before Caroline Hall's throw to third made it just in time.

The Patriots added to their lead in the fifth inning when Hopkins punched a ball into left field and picked up another run for a 3-0 lead. 

Lafayette scored a run each in the final two frames. In the sixth inning, Regan Dillon wore a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home Butler. In the seventh, Olivia Catalina scored on sac fly from Butler to run the final to 3-2. 

Lecky pitched six innings, giving up three earned runs on eight hits. Sophomore Abbey Lane (7-3) collected the win in the circle after surrendering one earned run on three hits over five innings.

As the action moved to game two, a diving catch in left field from Lafayette's Emma Ahlborn set the defensive tone in the first.

Lafayette struck first in the top of the second with a two-run home run by junior Katie Harrington that sent she and Kylee Sweet around the bags to give the Leopards an early lead, 2-0.

In the bottom of the second, George Mason struck back with a home run of its own from Meghan Gray to cut the lead in half.

In the bottom of the third, George Mason scored six runs, highlighted by a Tess Altevers Harris three-run home run as the Patriots led 7-2.

Lafayette answered with two runs in the fifth frame thanks to RBIs from Butler and Ahlborn that cut the deficit to 7-4. George Mason scored twice more in the bottom of the fifth for the 9-4 final.

Lafayette's Jordan Goedel went three innings and surrendered seven earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Senior Marisa Powell went three innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Alyssa Rangel (3-5) received the win, going four innings while allowing two earned runs on four hits and four. 

Lafayette will be back on the diamond on Wednesday in a doubleheader against Georgetown beginning at 2 p.m.