FAIRFAX, Va. – Freshman Taylor Hall (Cosby, Va./Cosby) doubled to right-centerfield  in the top of the eighth inning to drive in senior Becca Bernheimer (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) to break a 2-2 tie, as the Retrievers downed George Mason, 4-2, in extra innings, Tuesday afternoon at the George Mason Softball Complex.

Senior Katie Ferguson (North East, Md./North East/Cecil CC) brought around pinch runner Mary Hartman (Eldersburg, Md./Century)to double the lead and provide the final margin.

Junior Heather Brown (Pasadena, Md./Northeast) threw 2.2 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win for UMBC.  Brown (3-5) did not allow any base runners while forcing four groundouts.

Jamie Rice (0-1) was charged with the loss for George Mason after surrendering both runs in the top of the eighth inning.  The lefty threw four innings in relief, yielding only those two runs on five hits.

After a scoreless first inning, UMBC made the first mark, plating two runs in the top of the second inning on a single by freshman Kaila Balatgek (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township). 

UMBC freshman Miranda Clark (Tampa, Fla./H.B. Plant) held the Patriots scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when the host pulled to within one, 2-1, on an RBI triple by Rachael Davies.  Clark earned a no decision on Tuesday, giving up only one run, while striking out six batters and scattering three hits over five innings of work.

George Mason leveled the game in the bottom of the seventh when Davies doubled to center, bringing Brooke Blankenship around to score.

In the top of the seventh, the Retrievers had runners on first and third with only one out following a single by freshman Courtney Paone (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North), but failed to score.  Brown then sent the Patriots down in order to force the game into extras.

Sophomore Caitlin Chance (Easton, Md./Easton) started the rally in the eighth inning with a one out single through the left side of the infield.  After head coach Joe French replaced her with a pinch runner, Bernheimer, Hall doubled to give the visitors the lead.  Ferguson followed two batters later with her RBI single.

In the bottom half of the inning, Brown snuffed out any chance of a comeback by getting two pop outs and a ground out to end the game.

UMBC now has the rest of the week off before beginning America East play on Saturday with a doubleheader against Albany.  First pitch between the Retrievers and Great Danes is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the UMBC Softball Complex

NOTE: UMBC's game against Howard, originally scheduled for Wed., Mar. 20, has been moved to Thurs., Mar. 29.