BRONX, N.Y. – Fueled by a two key RBI from Haley Taormina along with a second consecutive Aly Rayles complete game, fourth-seeded George Mason upended No. 1 overall Saint Louis in the Atlantic 10 Softball Championship quarterfinals, jumping on top of the Billikens early on with five unanswered runs through fourth frames en route to an eventual 5-2 Patriots victory early Thursday afternoon at Bahoshy Field.

With the win, Mason secures the first position in the winner's bracket semifinal matchup on Friday at noon, facing the victor of the second quarterfinal between No. 2 Loyola Chicago and third-seeded Dayton. Meanwhile, SLU falls into the consolation bracket, and will next take the field Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. against the winner of Game 6.

Taormina got things started early for the Patriots behind a first-inning solo shot to left field, jolting Mason to a quick advantage on the scoreboard. The Billikens seriously threatened in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with no one out, but a short foul out, a strikeout and a dramatic diving lineout to Rachel Warrens saw the attack fizzle out under Rayles direction.

Taormina again came through for George Mason in the third, driving a deep double into the right-center gap for another RBI and 2-0 edge. The Patriots continued to plate runners in the fourth, tacking on three insurance scores between a fielder's choice turned error and a Marlaina Bozek RBI double.

Saint Louis finally managed to respond in the fifth, as a pair of doubles from Cami Newbanks and Natalie Sullivan closed to gap to 5-2 entering the final stretch.

In the circle, Rayles (17-8) dominated in the usual fashion, completing her third straight game while giving up six hits and two runs on 7.0 innings of work. The A-10 Pitcher of the Year logged three strikeouts on the day as well.

For the Billikens, A-10 first-team selection Chloe Wendling (20-13) also composed a complete game on 7.0 frames of action, surrendering five runs on seven hits with a total five strikeouts.