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BRONX, N.Y. – Fifth-seeded Saint Louis used a three-run eighth inning to defeat No. 4 George Mason, 5-2, in game one of the 2018 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship at Bahoshy Field on the campus of Fordham University.

The Billikens (11-10 A-10, 28-27 overall) advance in the winner’s bracket to face top-seeded Massachusetts Thursday at 12:00 pm. George Mason (12-10 A-10, 22-27 overall) drops into the consolation bracket and will play the loser of the No. 3 Dayton/No. 6 George Washington Wednesday at 5:00 pm.

Saint Louis struck first when Allie Macfarlane hit her first of two solo home runs on the day over the center field wall, giving the Billikens an early 1-0 advantage. Three innings later, in the top of the fourth, Macfarlane knocked her second solo home run of the game to left field, extending the Billikens lead to 2-0.

The Patriots responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs and two runners on, Liz Seymour’s RBI single to left scored Kate Owsley. Brooke Sullivan tried scoring from second on the play, but was tagged out on a close play at home plate.

Mason’s Jess Middleton evened the game at two, with a solo home run of her own to center field in the bottom of the sixth.

In the eighth inning, The Billikens used three RBI singles from Mackenzie Lawson, Kaylea Chappelle, and Maria Connell to give Saint Louis a three-run advantage, which ultimately would be the margin of victory.

Maddie Baalman (15-16) recorded the win in the circle for the Billikens, pitching eight innings, giving up seven hits, and striking out eight.