FAIRFAX, Virginia – The Marist softball team split two games on Saturday at the George Mason Tournament. The Red Foxes defeated Howard 11-1 in six innings, but then was defeated 5-4 by George Mason.

Senior shortstop Kyrsten Van Natta and senior outfielder/first baseman Colleen McWilliams each had four hits and four RBIs on the day.

Here is a closer look at each game:

Game One: Marist 11, Howard 1 – 6 innings

The Red Foxes scored two runs apiece in the first and second innings. Van Natta had an RBI single in the first, followed by a McWilliams RBI double. An RBI single by senior infielder Maureen Duddy and a sacrifice fly by Van Natta gave the Red Foxes a 4-0 advantage after one-and-a-half.

The Red Foxes added three runs in the fourth, a frame which included RBI singles by Van Natta and McWilliams, and two stolen bases by Van Natta. Howard scored an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning, but Marist put the game away with a four-run sixth, which included a three-run homer by sophomore designated player Gabrielle Kelliher.

Van Natta finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs, two runs scored, four stolen bases and a sacrifice fly. Duddy was 3-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and two stolen bases. Freshman center fielder Casey Page was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. McWilliams was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. In all, Marist stole nine bases in the contest.

In the circle, freshman Megan Beiermeister (3-0) allowed one unearned run in five innings four strikeouts. Freshman Kallen Leeseberg finished with a hitless and scoreless sixth.

Right fielder Jasmine Gammons was 2-for-3 for Howard, and scored the team's lone run.

Game Two: George Mason 5, Marist 4

The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth, when McWilliams belted a two-out double and scored on an RBI single by junior catcher Rebecca Freeman.

George Mason scored twice in the bottom of the fourth, but Marist took the lead back with a two-run homer by McWilliams in the top of sixth. However, George Mason grabbed the lead with three runs in the home half of the sixth on the strength of four hits.

In the seventh, Marist mounted a rally. A sacrifice fly by sophomore designated player Miranda Perez brought home Page, which made the score 5-4. However, the game ended with the tying run being thrown out at the plate on an infield ground ball.

For Marist, McWilliams was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Red-shirt junior Jessica Van Alphen (3-1), who started and went the first 5.1 innings, took the loss. Freshman Brooke Peterson got the final two outs in the sixth.

For George Mason, left fielder Julie Czarnecki, designated player Brooke Sullivan and catcher Katie Kitts had two hits apiece. Gabriella Lopez (1-1) went the first six innings for the win, and Marina Vitalich got the final three outs for her first save.

Marist now stands at 6-2 on the season. The Red Foxes close out play at the George Mason Tournament on Sunday with games against Army West Point (9 a.m.) and Howard (1:30 p.m.).