THE BRONX, N.Y. – Cami Newbanks and Natalie Sullivan produced RBI doubles in the fifth inning to put top-seeded Saint Louis back in the game, but fourth-seeded George Mason held on for a 5-2 victory over the Billikens in an Atlantic 10 Conference Championship quarterfinal game Thursday afternoon at Bahoshy Field.
 
Up next for SLU (29-24) in the double-elimination tournament is a game Friday at 1:30 p.m. Central against No. 3 Dayton.
 
George Mason (33-21) advances to Friday's semifinals to face No. 2 Loyola Chicago.
 
Saint Louis trailed 1-0 following a home run by Haley Taormina in the top of the first, but it appeared the Billikens would get that run back and perhaps more in the bottom of the inning.
 
Chloe Rhine led off with a double, Sullivan walked, and Gabbie Kowalik hit a sharp line drive off Mason pitcher Aly Rayle for an infield single to load the bases with nobody out. But Rayle retired the next three batters, including shortstop Rachel Warrens' diving grab of Jane Kaniecki's liner headed to left-center for the third out, to keep the Patriots in front.
 
Taormina struck again in the third with an RBI double that made it 2-0.
 
The Patriots expanded their lead with a three-run fourth. Sydney Blackwell began the scoring with an RBI fielder's choice, and an error allowed a second run to cross on the play. Marlaina Bozek's RBI double made it 5-0.
 
A one-out walk in the fifth gave Mason a chance to pad its lead, but Saint Louis hurler Chloe Wendling retired the final eight batters she faced to give the Bills a chance to come back.
 
Ashley Marietta ignited SLU's fifth-inning rally with a leadoff double. With one out, Newbanks stroked a double that scored pinch-runner Grace Kmak, and with two away, Sullivan's double plated Newbanks. However, Sullivan was retired trying to stretch the hit into a triple, ending the rally.
 
Kaniecki singled to lead off the seventh but was stranded there.
 
Wendling allowed four earned runs, seven hits and just one walk while striking out five.