March 23, 2007
Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University's softball team (10-14, 0-0 CAA) will host Georgia State (19-14) for a three-game series this weekend and the first Colonial Athletic Association series for both teams. The Patriots and Panthers will face-off in a doubleheader on March 24, with the first game starting at 12 p.m., and will then compete again the following day at 11 a.m.
Most recently, the Patriots swept UMBC in a doubleheader match-up on March 21. Mason won the first game by a score of 5-2 and then edged the Retrievers, 4-3, in the nightcap. In the top of the seventh in the first contest, the score was 5-2 in favor of Mason and the bases were loaded. Freshman Becky Anderson pitched three-straight strikeouts to help secure Mason's victory, while sophomore Rachel Hastings earned the win for the Patriots as she pitched four innings and gave up two unearned runs off of four hits. In addition, Anderson only allowed one hit in three innings of work.
In the bottom of the fifth in the second game, Mason was down by a score of 3-1. Freshman Shaniqua Steele responded and connected on her first collegiate triple and eventually scored to pull the Patriots within one to UMBC. Junior Mandy Bach, who followed Steele in the line-up, tied the game and Hill scored the game-winning run for Mason after Anderson reached on an error, but was then thrown out.
Paige Krystofinski earned her first win of the season as she gave up three earned runs off of six hits in 5.1 innings of work. Junior Arielle Weinkofsky was the reliever and earned her third save of the year as she only allowed two hits from the seven batters she faced.
Junior Kristin Dickel leads the Patriots in batting average (.380) and also is first among teammates in hits with 19. Junior Amanda Bach has connected on a team-high eight doubles, while Anderson has hit a team-leading three homeruns.
GSU split the doubleheader against Furman on March 21, winning the first game by a score of 4-1 and then lost the nightcap, 5-2. Sophomore Holly Willis led the way batting 2-of-5 (.400) with one walk and a run scored, while senior Alison Bradford had a 2-of-6 showing at the plate, which included a double and she also scored two runs.
Nichole Griffin currently leads all Panthers with a .376 batting average and also owns team highs in doubles (12), as well as home runs (6). Sophomore Madi Gore is 11-4 in the circle with a 2.56 ERA and has fanned 81 batters in 93 innings of work.
The second game of the day on Saturday (2 p.m.) marks the Broadside Game of the Week. Students with a valid Mason ID will be given a free itunes gift card, while supplies last.
