MERION STATION, Pa. - The fourth-seeded Flyers used a two-run second inning to get by the regular season champion and top-seeded George Washington, 2-0, in the opening game of the 2021 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship, hosted by Saint Joseph's University.

The Flyers will face the winner of game two between No. 2 Saint Joseph's and No. 3 Fordham in the semifinals, while GW falls into the consolation bracket and will play the SJU-Fordham loser in an elimination game Thursday at 4:00 pm.

A pair of singles from Emily Daniel and Briley Sidor, plus a sacrifice bunt from Ali Weekly got the Flyers (20-24) momentum going in the second frame. Megan Ward tripled down the left field line to score both Daniel and Sidor to put UD on top, 2-0.

Getting the start for the Colonials (33-9) was A-10 Pitcher of the Year, Sierra Lange, who scattered five hits and two earned runs in the full seven innings in the loss. Her counterpart, Dayton's Addy Bullis (12-6) held GW scoreless through 5.1 innings, allowing just four hits with one strikeout to earn the win.

Sarah Balitz finished out the game for the Flyers, avoiding danger with two runners on and facing A-10 Player of the Year, GW's Jenna Cone. Balitiz forced Cone to ground into a fielder's choice and picked up her sixth save of the year.