BRONX, N.Y. – Reinforced by yet another high-octane showing from A-10 Pitcher of the Year Aly Rayle, fourth-seeded George Mason secured the program's first-ever appearance in the Atlantic 10 Softball Championship final, shutting out No. 2 overall Loyola Chicago during the league's winner's bracket semifinal behind a final 3-0 mark early Friday afternoon at Bahoshy Field.

With the victory, the Patriots advance to the championship final Saturday at noon with the advantage of zero losses thus far to blemish their record, facing the winner between Loyola and the Game 8 victor – No. 1 Saint Louis vs. No. 3 Dayton. Notably, Mason need only win once on Saturday to lock down the title while its opponent will need to knock off the Patriots in back-to-back games.

Rayle (18-8) racked up her fourth complete game of the past eight days, three of which registered as shutouts, as she colleceted seven strikeouts across 7.0 frames of action. The graduate student gave up just four hits with no walks and a single hit-by-pitch as well.

In the circle for Loyola, Peyton Pepkowski (14-11) also composed a decent outing, surrendering three runs in the first inning before settling in to a comfortable pace. The sophomore also gave up four hits with seven strikeouts, walking one and allowing three earned runs.

Following an opening at-bat walk for Marlaina Bozek, Haley Taormina came through early for George Mason, belting a two-run homer to left-center field for a quick 2-0 advantage. After back-to-back outs, Maddy Myers got in on the action as well, lifting a solo shot to nearly the same position as the Patriots surged to a three-run edge.

Loyola only truly threatened during the fifth, as a hit-pitch and a single set up the Ramblers with a runner in scoring position, but a fly out to left kept the shutout alive for Rayle.