Feb. 24, 2008

Box Score

ORLANDO - For the second time in as many days, it took extra innings to decide the fate of the George Mason softball team. On Sunday against Birmingham Southern, sophomore Becky Anderson threw a seven-inning shutout but the Panthers plated the game-winning run in the eighth inning to hand Mason a 1-0 defeat at the UCF Tournament. Mason falls to 0-5 while BSC improved to 6-5 on the season.

Bethney Reynoldson picked up the victory for BSC after her complete game shutout, allowing the Patriots just three hits over eight innings. Junior Paige Krystofinski took the loss after allowing the game-winning run to score with no outs recorded in the eighth.

Mason's offense was led by a two-hit performance from junior Kelsey Mack, who singled and doubled on the day. Classmate Alison Bryan also recorded a base hit for the Patriots. The Panthers were led by multi-hit games from Grace Stokes, Lindsay Creighton, and Stephanie Barlow.

The Patriots' best chance for scoring came in the first inning, when sophomore Shaniqua Steele advanced all the way to third base. Steele reached base on a fielder's choice, then stole second base and took third on a throwing error by catcher Danielle Honore'. However, Steele was left standing on third after a strikeout ended the Mason threat.

In the eighth, senior Lesley Hassen began on second base according to tie-breaker rules, but was called out on a double play. However, the Panthers were able to convert in the bottom half of the inning, as Erin Glover began the inning on second and scored on a bases-loaded single by Anne Lawrence.

Mason will next try for its first entry into the win column next weekend when it hosts the Patriot Classic from Friday through Sunday. The Patriots will entertain Cornell, Niagara, Princeton and Quinnipiac over the three-day tourney, with action set to begin Friday at 1 p.m., when Mason will square off against the Niagara Purple Eagles at George Mason Field.