Feb. 22, 2009
Game One Box Score: Mason 7, YSU 2
Game Two Box Score: Mason 9, YSU 3
FAIRFAX, Va. - Starting the day in snowy conditions at George Mason Field on Sunday, the George Mason softball team's offense came through as the Patriots topped Youngtown State, 7-2 and 9-3, to complete a four-game sweep of the Penguins. Mason improved to 5-4 following the weekend's action.
In the first game, Mason jumped on the scoreboard in the second inning with a pair of bases-loaded, RBI walks issued to senior Alison Bryan and freshman Alyssa See. The Patriots added another pair of runs two innings later as See doubled to right field to score senior Meghan Hill, and freshman Rachael Davies singled to bring home See.
YSU sliced the deficit in half in the top half of the fifth inning on a two-RBI single to left field by Jordan Ingalls, but freshman Miranda Cranford responded by slamming a two-run home run in the bottom half of the frame. Bryan tacked on her second RBI of the game with a base hit to left field, scoring sophomore Stephanie Strother.
Cranford (1-0) picked up her first career win by shutting down the Penguins for the remainder of the game, as she allowed no earned runs on nine hits in a complete-game performance. Cheryl Cale (0-1) took the loss for Youngstown State.Eight different Patriots recorded a hit in the game, including a 2-for-2 game from freshman Morgan Davis.
In the second game, Mason took an early lead with an RBI single by freshman Tori Dudley. Four more Patriot runs were added to the scoreboard in the third inning, beginning with a ground-rule double by sophomore Anush Mooradian. Davis and Strother each knocked in a run with a base hit in the inning.
Youngstown State ended the shutout bid in the fifth, cutting the gap to 5-2, but the Patriots answered right back in the bottom half of the inning. YSU added a run to make it 7-3 in the sixth, but again, RBI singles from Dudley and Davis put Mason ahead.
Junior Becky Anderson (3-2) allowed just a single before retiring the Penguins in the seventh to earn the complete-game victory. Anderson allowed just one earned run while fanning six YSU batters. Ingalls (0-2) pitched a complete game in the loss for Youngstown State.
Dudley and Davis powered the Mason offense, which put out 14 hits. Dudley finished the game 4-for-4 with two RBIs, while Davis drove in three runs in a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.
Mason will be back in action next weekend as it hosts the three-day Patriot Classic. Joining the Patriots at the tournament will be Akron, Penn, St. Joseph's and Cornell.
