NEWARK, DE -- George Mason first baseman Ashli Breau hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning to lead the Patriots softball team over Delaware, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Delaware Field.

The Patriots, who improved to 17-26 overall and 6-8 in the Colonial Athletic Association, struck first by scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Shaniqua Steele beat out an infield single to open the game, and after she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kelsey Mack, Steele scored on a double to leftcenter by Ciera Jones.

Delaware, which fell to 19-19 overall and 4-11 in the conference, left runners on the corners in the bottom of the first but tied the game with a run in the second. With one out Caitlin Smith doubled to rightfield, and she scored when Shanette White (at right) followed with a single to center.

The game, which was delayed briefly three times in the first 40 minutes of the contest, was halted at 1:15 p.m. with the teams tied at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning. Play resumed at 4:40 p.m. following separate rain and lightning delays, and both the Patriots and Blue Hens went scoreless in the fifth. Delaware starting pitcher Anne Marie Pagano then retired the first two batters in the top of the sixth, but Breau followed by lofting a flyball over the leftfield fence for her 10th homer of the year to give George Mason the lead.

The Blue Hens mounted a rally in the bottom of the inning, as a double by Kim Ovittore and walks to Smith and White loaded the bases with nobody out. Patriots starting pitcher Becky Anderson then got UD pinch hitter Mary Ann Magee to hit a groundball to second, and Mason second baseman Jenna Lipscomb threw home to get the force out on Ovittore. Anderson then retired Allison Borchers on a pop out to shortstop and struck out Katie Lee looking to get out of the jam.

Anderson then retired the Blue Hens in order in the bottom of the seventh to improve to 14-12 on the season. She allowed one earned run on seven hits with eight strikeouts and three walks on the day. Pagano fell to 11-8 after giving up two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work, while Samantha Shawn allowed one hit and struck out three batters in 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Lee went 2 for 4 for Delaware, which left 10 runners on base during the game. White finished 1 for 2 with a walk and an RBI, while Smith was 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.

Delaware travels to Army on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader with the Black Knights.

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