April 30, 2005

Box Score

Wilmington, N.C.--George Mason University's softball team split a Colonial Athletic Association double-header Saturday afternoon against UNC Wilmington in North Carolina. The Patriots (19-27, 6-10 CAA) won the first game at Boseman Field by a score of 7-6, while the Seahwaks (21-41, 3-11) claimed a 2-1 victory in the nightcap.

In the opening game, Mason took a 1-0 lead in the top of second when Bach singled to left, scoring freshman Lesley Hassen. Hassen drew a walk to reach base earlier in the inning.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, UNCW plated five runs on four hits to take a 5-1 lead. Freshman Whitney Knudsen plated the first run of the frame on a bases loaded walk before Searle doubled down of the left field line to bring home the next two runs. House scored the final two runs of the inning on a single up the middle.

UNCW tied the game at 6-all in the bottom half of fifth inning after GMU scored five runs on six hits to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the frame. The Patriots started the rally by loading the bases with three straight singles before Dickel singled down the right field line to bring home the first two runs of the frame. Bach singled home the third run and James capped the outburst with a two-run double to left field.

The Seahawks tied the game in the bottom half of the inning when House used a suicide squeeze bunt to score Sanders from third. Sanders reached base on a bunt single to start the inning.

Freshman Kristen Dickel broke a 6-all tie in the sixth when she grounded out to sophomore shortstop Kelli Adcox with the bases loaded, scoring freshman Katlyn Winter from third.

In game one, sophomore Megan Farrell went all seven innings in the circle for George Mason to improve her record to 8-9. Farrell surrendered six runs - three unearned - on nine hits, while striking out four and walking two of the batters she faced.

Junior Jennifer Bosley got the start for the Seahawks in the opener and went 4.2 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits, while walking five and striking out six Patriots. Sophomore Jess Luckett went the final 2.1 innings and was credited with the loss (8-17) as she allowed one run on three hits against the 11 batters she faced.

In the nightcap, Gostyla scored the decisive run with one out on a wild pitch from Weinkofsky. Gostyla reached base earlier in the inning on a double to left field and later moved to third on a single by Sanders.

UNCW took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when freshman Paige Wakefield hit a solo home run to left field. The blast was Wakefield's fourth home run of the season. GMU tied the game in the top of the fourth though on a double by James that scored Bach. Bach reached base on a single to left to open the inning.

Freshman Arielle Weinkofsky took the loss for the Patriots to fall to 4-9as she gave up two runs on four hits while fanning five Seahawks. Senior Jamie Gostyla pitched her seventh complete game of the season in game two to up her record to 4-3 on the year. Gostyla allowed one run on four hits, while walking one and striking out four Patriots.

The two teams complete their three-game series Sunday with a Noon contest at Boseman Field.