March 24, 2007

Box Score

Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University's softball team (10-16, 0-2 CAA) hosted Georgia State (21-14, 2-0) in a Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader Saturday afternoon and the Patriots fell short in both contests. The Panthers won the first game by a score of 5-3 and then edged Mason, 2-1, in the second game.

In the bottom of the fourth in the first game, sophomore Ali Bryan hit a single and advanced to second after sophomore Kelsey Mack hit a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Becky Anderson connected on a single to third base and reached second after junior Kristin Dickel grounded out to first base. Junior Lesley Hassen followed Dickel and hit her first double of the season to earn two RBI as both Bryan and Anderson scored.

The Panthers got on the board in the top of the fifth after sophomore Jackie Jaegle walked; and was brought home when senior Mary Kathryn Branan smacked a double to leftfield. Junior Arielle Weinkofsky started things off for the Patriots in the circle, but Anderson relieved her in the fifth with one out and two runners in scoring position. Two more runs did score in this inning to push GSU ahead of Mason, 4-2.

In the fifth, Mason sophomore Dee Murray hit a single and Bryan brought her home as she connected on a double to left centerfield. The Patriots were unable to score anymore and fell in their first conference game of the season.

Weinkofsky earned the loss for the Patriots as she gave up three earned urns off of four hits in 4.1 innings of work and Anderson gave up two earned runs off of six hits in 2.2 innings. Madi Gore improved her record to 12-4 in the circle as she pitched the entire game for GSU and gave up three earned runs off of eight hits.

In the second game, the Panthers scored their two runs in the third. Nichole Griffin hit a single and earned two RBI as both Danielle Roddy and Branan crossed home plate to give GSU a 2-0 lead. Dickel, who went 3-of-3 in the second game, hit a double to centerfield in the fourth and was brought home after junior Emily Miller smacked a single up the middle. Mason came up short in the remaining innings to put its overall record to 10-16 on the year.

Anderson pitched all seven innings for the Patriots and gave up two runs, one earned, off of six hits, while striking out six of the 28 Panthers she faced. Ashley Cowan collected the win for GSU as she allowed one earned run off of six hits and struck-out three of the 31 batters she faced.

These two teams will wrap-up the three-game series on Sunday, March 25 at George Mason Field, beginning at 11 a.m.