March 19, 2003

Box Score

FAIRFAX, VA...The George Mason softball team swept a double-header from Marist Wednesday at George Mason Field. Game scores were 7-4 and 8-0.

The Patriots improve to 9-7 on the season, while the Red Foxes drop to 1-5.

Mason first baseman Kim Braxton went 4-for-7 on the day, including a three-run home run, with five RBI and two runs scored, while Jen Schultz added five hits in six trips to the plate. For Marist, Kathleen McEvily, Bridget Hurlman and Chrystine McHugh each had two hits on the day.

In the opener, the Patriots 7-4 win, Marist jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after the game's initial half-inning and was up 3-1 heading into the bottom of the third before Mason scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth frames to open up the game.

During the Patriots decisive fourth and fifth innings, Braxton drew a bases-loaded walk, Schultz added a sacrifice fly and Stacy James chipped in with an RBI-single.

Miranda Fox picked up the win, while Dianna Austin earned a save. Fox finished with five hits, three runs - two earned -- two strikeouts and four walks, while Austin worked three innings, gave up two hits, one unearned run, two walks and recorded one strikeout.

Nichole Rawson took the loss for Marist after 3.1 innings of action and four earned runs.

In the second game, Mason used a four-run fourth as a foundation for its 8-0, six-inning win.

Braxton's three-run homer to right-center highlighted the fourth frame, and it was followed two batters later by an RBI-double from Amanda Ayers.

Rene Leveque pitched a four-hit shutout with five strikeouts and no walks allowed. Marist starter Elizabeth Moyer was saddled with the loss after working four innings and giving up five earned runs and six runs overall.

Mason's next competition will be this weekend, when it hosts the Patriot Classic Friday-Sunday. Mason will face Binghamton at 3 p.m. Friday before entertaining Cleveland State (9 a.m.) and Central Connecticut State (11 a.m.) on Saturday at Robinson High School.