DAYTON - The University of Dayton softball team is set to play host to George Mason this weekend for a three-game Atlantic 10 series. The two will play a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch set for 12 p.m. at UD Softball Stadium.


About Dayton
Dayton (15-15, 3-2 A-10) is coming off two losses at Saint Louis on Wednesday in the team's only mid-week Atlantic 10 tilt of the season following a sweep of George Washington last weekend. The Flyers are currently in fourth place in A-10 standings. UD is led offensively by senior Gabrielle Snyder with a .396 average (4th A-10) and 38 hits (t-1st) while scoring 21 runs. Junior Manda Cash (9-7) is the team's top hurler with a team-low 2.78 ERA. She has collected a league-best 106 strikeouts over 88.0 innings pitched (2nd A-10).

Scouting George Mason
George Mason (7-20, 2-1 A-10) opened A-10 play at home against La Salle, claiming at 2-1 win in the three-game series, last weekend. The Patriots are led by Madison Aker with a team-high .306 batting average while Jess Middleton has collected a team-best 22 hits. Marina Vitalich has made 15 appearances in the circle for George Mason, starting 14 times. Her ERA of 1.71 is lowest in the conference and she ranks second in the A-10 with 81 strikeouts.

Series Stuff
Dayton and George Mason have faced off seven times in the all-time series between the two programs with the Flyers holding a 5-2 advantage. Last season, UD picked up a 2-1 conference series win in Fairfax, Virginia.

RPI Rankings
In the NCAA's most recent Rating Percentage Index
(RPI) that includes games through March 26, Dayton came in at 162 according to NCAA.com. George Mason is rated 264.

She's A Hit Machine
With 182 career hits, senior Gabby Snyder now ranks fourth all-time on the Dayton career hits list. Chasing former Flyer Molly Meyer (2007-10) who is at the top of the list with 197, Snyder needs just 16 more hits to take over the top spot. She is currently tied for first place in the A-10 standings with 38 hist this season.

There's Your Double
Senior Gabby Snyder is an ace in the circle but she also carries a big bat. After batting her third double of the season against Northern Kentucky on Feb. 17, Snyder set a new Dayton career doubles record, a mark previously held by former Flyer Kathleen Maloof - sister of current Flyer Madi Maloof. Snyder now has 50 career doubles.

Speaking of the Record Book
Junior Manda Cash has already made her mark on the Dayton record book and continues to climb the rankings. Her career ERA of 1.78 ranks third all-time in program history. Additionally, Cash has tallied 456 career strikeouts which ranks second, behind only former Flyer Kayla English (2012-15) who holds the record with 564.