FAIRFAX, Virginia – The Marist softball team defeated Army West Point by a score of 2-1 in eight innings in its first of five games at the George Mason Tournament on Friday night.

Army scored the game's first run in the bottom of the fourth. Left fielder Ashley Yoo had a leadoff triple, and scored one batter later on an RBI fielder's choice by right fielder Kristen McPeek. The Black Knights later loaded the bases with one out in the inning, but junior Jayne Oberdorf pitched out of the game to keep the score 1-0.

Marist tied the score in the visiting half of the sixth. With one out, freshman center fielder Casey Page singled. Senior shortstop Kyrsten Van Natta followed with a single, which advanced Page to third. Van Natta then stole second, and a throwing error brought Page home from third with the tying run.

In the eighth inning, the international tie-breaker rule was applied. Pinch-runner Brandi Coon was placed at second base to start the inning. A groundout by sophomore designated player Miranda Perez moved Coon to third, and she scored on a sacrifice fly by senior third baseman Maureen Duddy. Army West Point had runners on first and third with one out in the bottom of the eighth, but red-shirt junior Jessica Van Alphen got a strikeout and induced a groundout on a comebacker to end the game.

Van Alphen did not allow a hit over the final three innings, and struck out three as she improved to 3-0. Oberdorf allowed only three hits and one walk with five strikeouts in the first five frames.

Renee Poirier went all eight innings for Army West Point, and struck out two against just one walk.

Junior catcher Rebecca Freeman went 2-for-3 for Marist. Yoo went 2-for-3 with a double, triple and run scored for the Black Knights. Marist held a 6-3 edge in hits.

With the win, Marist improved to 5-1. The Red Foxes are now 4-0 in one-run games this year.

Marist will return to action on Saturday, when they play twice: against Howard at 2:30, followed by George Mason at 4:30.