# George Mason Patriots softball

The George Mason Patriots softball team represents George Mason University in the NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). From 2002 until 2013, the team was a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Patriots are currently led by head coach Justin Walker. The team plays its home games at George Mason Softball Complex located on the university's campus.

## History

George Mason qualified for the NCAA Division I softball tournament for the first time in 2023 after winning the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, defeating Loyola Chicago by a score of 6-3. The Patriots faced off against Duke in their first game of the tournament, losing 2-1 in a close contest. They were eliminated from the tournament by Campbell, losing by a score of 7-1.
Former shortstop Stacy James was named Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year in 2002, and in 2003 was named CAA Player of the Year. In 2010, James was named to the CAA's 25th Anniversary softball team. In 2017, former pitcher Marina Vitalich was named as the Atlantic 10 Co-Pitcher of the Year, sharing the honors with Fordham pitcher Lauren Quense.

### George Mason in the NCAA Tournament

| Year | Record | Pct | Notes |
| 2023 | 0–2 | .000 | Durham Regional |
| TOTALS | 0-2 | .000 | |

### Coaching history

| Years | Coach | Record | % |
| 1978–1980 | Judy Ferrier | 41–20 | .672 |
| 1981 | Penny Butler | 35–10 | .778 |
| 1982–1986 | Doug Wheelbarger | 160–55–1 | .743 |
| 1987–1996 | Mitch Hughes | 171–244 | .412 |
| 1997–2003 | Beth Fulcher | 183–195 | .484 |
| 2004–2019 | Joe Verbanic | 315–498 | .387 |
| 2020–present | Justin Walker | 81–78 | .509 |

## Season by season results

Statistics overview :
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| George Mason Patriots (AIAW) (1978–1982) ||||||
| 1978 | Judy Ferrier | 7–3 | | | |
| 1979 | Judy Ferrier | 11–9 | | | |
| 1980 | Judy Ferrier | 23–8 | | | |
| 1981 | Penny Butler | 35–10 | | | |
| 1982 | Doug Wheelbarger | 26–12 | | | |
| George Mason Patriots (Independent) (1983–2001) ||||||
| 1983 | Doug Wheelbarger | 41–2 | | | |
| 1984 | Doug Wheelbarger | 33–17 | | | |
| 1985 | Doug Wheelbarger | 53–8 | | | |
| 1986 | Doug Wheelbarger | 33–16–1 | | | |
| 1987 | Mitch Hughes | 11–17 | | | |
| 1988 | Mitch Hughes | 22–26 | | | |
| 1989 | Mitch Hughes | 13–18 | | | |
| 1990 | Mitch Hughes | 12–26 | | | |
| 1991 | Mitch Hughes | 21–23 | | | |
| 1992 | Mitch Hughes | 13–26 | | | |
| 1993 | Mitch Hughes | 15–24 | | | |
| 1994 | Mitch Hughes | 21–31 | | | |
| 1995 | Mitch Hughes | 32–25 | | | |
| 1996 | Mitch Hughes | 11–28 | | | |
| 1997 | Beth Fulcher | 21–20 | | | |
| 1998 | Beth Fulcher | 16–39 | | | |
| 1999 | Beth Fulcher | 20–39 | | | |
| 2000 | Beth Fulcher | 34–29 | | | |
| 2001 | Beth Fulcher | 22–27 | | | |
| George Mason Patriots (Colonial Athletic Association) (2002–2013) ||||||
| 2002 | Beth Fulcher | 40–19 | 9–4 | 2nd | |
| 2003 | Beth Fulcher | 30–22 | 9–6 | 2nd | |
| 2004 | Joe Verbanic | 28–32 | 8–10 | 5th | |
| 2005 | Joe Verbanic | 22–31 | 6–11 | T–5th | |
| 2006 | Joe Verbanic | 8–48 | 5–15 | 8th | |
| 2007 | Joe Verbanic | 19–34 | 5–16 | 8th | |
| 2008 | Joe Verbanic | 19–32 | 6–14 | 6th | |
| 2009 | Joe Verbanic | 16–33 | 2–16 | 8th | |
| 2010 | Joe Verbanic | 21–24 | 9–12 | 5th | |
| 2011 | Joe Verbanic | 19–25 | 8–12 | T–5th | |
| 2012 | Joe Verbanic | 13–41 | 7–14 | 7th | |
| 2013 | Joe Verbanic | 18–37 | 6–15 | 6th | |
| George Mason Patriots (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2014–present) ||||||
| 2014 | Joe Verbanic | 22–21 | 6–10 | 7th | |
| 2015 | Joe Verbanic | 23–29 | 11–12 | 4th | |
| 2016 | Joe Verbanic | 22–25 | 8–13 | 7th | |
| 2017 | Joe Verbanic | 23–33 | 12–11 | 6th | |
| 2018 | Joe Verbanic | 22–28 | 12–10 | 4th | |
| 2019 | Joe Verbanic | 22–25 | 10–12 | 7th | |
| 2020 | Justin Walker | 7–12 | 0–0 | N/A | Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic |
| 2021 | Justin Walker | 19–18 | 9–16 | 7th | |
| 2022 | Justin Walker | 24–26 | 12–12 | T–6th | |
| 2023 | Justin Walker | 35–24 | 16–10 | 4th | NCAA Regionals |
| 2024 | Justin Walker | 0–0 | 0–0 | | |
| Total: | Total: | 1,017–1,100–1 (.480) | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||