March 4, 2008
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
FAIRFAX, Va. - In their first mid-week action of the 2008 season, the George Mason softball team saw a seventh-inning rally fall just short in a 6-5 loss to Mount St. Mary's, then rebounded with a big first inning in a 4-1 victory over the Mountaineers on Tuesday in doubleheader action at George Mason Field. After splitting, Mason now holds a 3-8 record, while the Mount finished the day 2-13.
Mason struck first in the day's opening game, as junior leadoff hitter Ali Bryan tripled in the bottom of the first inning and scored on a RBI fielder's choice by sophomore Shaniqua Steele. The Mountaineers answered right back with a five-run second, which forced Mason starter Danielle Acord (0-1) from the game. Acord, a freshman making her first collegiate start, was charged with all five runs on four hits.
Mount St. Mary's added its sixth run of the game in the third inning, when Katie Donovan's single brought home Jenna Zimmerman, who reached base on a fielder's choice. The Mount held the Mason bats at bay until the final inning, when the Patriots' furious rally came up just short.
After cutting the deficit to 6-2 in the sixth on freshman Stephanie Strother's RBI sacrifice fly, Mason plated its third run when freshman Ashli Breau singled to left, scoring junior Kelsey Mack. Strother would then pick up her second RBI of the day on a fielder's choice. Junior Katlyn Winter was struck by an errant Amanda Hanson pitch with the bases loaded to bring in Mason's final run, as a bases-loaded strikeout ended the game.
To begin the second game, Mason wasted no time in producing all of the offense it would need for a victory. Mason put three runs on the board in the bottom of the first, capped off by senior Kristen Dickel's RBI double to left field to take an early advantage. From there, sophomore Becky Anderson (3-3) would hold the Mountaineers to just one run on four hits while striking out six batters to pick up the win in a complete game performance. Mount St. Mary's Jamie Fowler took the loss in a complete game effort as well.
The Patriots close out their season-long eight-game homestand this weekend when they host the George Mason Invitational on Saturday and Sunday. The two-day tournament will feature Mason along with Iona, Morgan State, and Youngstown State.
