March 26, 2008
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The George Mason softball team took a day trip to Charlottesville on Wednesday for a doubleheader against in-state rival Virginia, and the Cavaliers came away with a pair of victories, 5-3 and 6-2, in non-conference action at The Park. Mason fell to 7-19 while UVA improved to 9-22.
In the first game of the day, both teams battled back and forth before the Cavaliers scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. Whitney Holstun pitched a complete game for Virginia to pick up the win, while junior Kelsey Mack was saddled with the loss for Mason after allowing five runs in five innings of work.
The Patriots were led by a 3-for-4 game at the plate from sophomore Ashli Breau, who also chipped in a pair of RBIs, while Lindsey Preuss was 3-for-3 in the contest.
Mason scored the first run of the game right away as Breau's single to center field scored Mack from second base. UVA answered with a run of its own in the bottom half of the first, when an error allowed Meghan O'Leary to score and tie the game at one. The Cavaliers added a pair of runs in the second inning when Abby Snyder doubled to right center with runners on the corners, opening up a 3-1 lead.
Mason chipped away at the Cavalier lead over the next two innings, when Breau recorded her second run-scoring single of the day in the third, again bringing Mack home. One inning later, freshman Stephanie Strother tied the game when her double down the left field line scored junior Jill Chen.
Virginia set the final margin in the fifth with back-to-back RBI extra-base hits by Carly Winger, who tripled, and Preuss who doubled to bring in the fifth Cavalier run of the day. Mason had two runners in scoring position with two outs in the top of the seventh, but a groundout ended the contest and gave the Cavaliers a game-one victory.
After a brief intermission, the twin-bill continued as did the Cavaliers offense. Virginia scored four runs in the first two innings and never trailed as they picked up the win. Karla Wilburn earned the victory while sophomore Becky Anderson took the loss.
A Preuss RBI single opened up the scoreboard in the nightcap, and was followed by a three-run second inning. Sarah Tacke reached on an Anderson fielding error and brought home Jennifer Bowles. A Synder fielder's choice plated another run and the scoring concluded in the inning when Kelly Haller singled up the middle, scoring O'Leary and leaving the score 4-0.
Mason sliced the deficit in half in the fifth inning with a pair of runs on an RBI base hit and a run-scoring sacrifice fly to center field. However, the Cavaliers matched the Patriots in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of unearned runs.
The Patriots return to action on Saturday when they travel to face Colonial Athletic Association foe Drexel in Philadelphia. The doubleheader is set to begin at 11 a.m. with the series finale scheduled for Sunday at 11.
