AMHERST, Mass.— Fourth-seeded George Mason scored a single run in both the first and third innings, but it was enough to lift the Patriots to a 2-1 win over No. 5 La Salle in the opening game of the 2015 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship Wednesday.

The Patriots (22-27) advance to face top-seeded Dayton Thursday at noon. La Salle (13-21) falls into the consolation bracket and will play again today at 5:00 pm

Seven of the combined 11 hits and all three runs came in the first three innings as both pitchers settled in and played defensive softball from the fourth inning on.

Second Team All-Conference selection Christina Bascara provided the Explorers’ run in the first inning, lifting a two-out pitch over the right centerfield wall to give La Salle a 1-0 lead. But A-10 All-Rookie Team member Liz Seymour evened the score in the bottom of the inning with an RBI-single that drove in Mary O’Connor, who led off with a double down the left-field line.

McKenzie Jones scored the game-winning run, reaching on a walk and then advancing to third on a bunt and an error. She crossed the plate on a Brooke Blankenship RBI single to center.

Casey Herring threw a six-hit complete game to earn her ninth win of the season (9-9). She struck out three La Salle batters and allowed just the one earned run. McKenzie Peace (5-9) took the loss, allowing five hits and one earned run.

O’Connor went 2-3 with a run scored to lead Mason. Seymour and Blankenship each had an RBI as well. The Explorers scattered six hits among six different batters, with Bascara’s blast providing the only scoring.