March 21, 2009

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason softball team opened conference play against the seven-time defending Colonial Athletic Association champions, and the Patriots were unable to come away with a victory, dropping 7-0 and 10-6 decisions to Hofstra on Saturday afternoon at George Mason Field.

Mason (13-13, 0-2) was unable to plate a run in the opener, as Hofstra (8-11, 2-0) and starter Kayleigh Lotti (7-4) held the Patriots to just one hit. Lotti fanned 14 Patriot batters in the win, while Mason starter Miranda Cranford (5-3) took the loss after allowing seven runs (three earned) on 10 hits while striking out six.

Hofstra found its scoring in the second inning, as four runs scored as a result of three Mason errors. A two-run triple by Melissa Hodge and an RBI double by Casey Fee rounded out the Pride scoring. Meanwhile, the Patriots' lone hit came off the bat of junior Becky Anderson, whose sharply-hit liner to second base nipped Fee's glove but fell to the turf for a base hit.

The Patriots came out of the break looking to hold off the Hofstra bats, but the Pride scored a pair of runs with two outs off Anderson (7-7), who took the loss in a complete-game outing.

Mason responded though in the bottom half with a pair of home runs. Cranford drove a ball over the fence to straightaway center, cutting the deficit to 2-1. After a single up the middle by freshman Morgan Davis, Anderson helped out her own cause with her first home run of the season, a two-run shot that also cleared the wall in center field.

The Pride offense countered with a five-run fourth and a three-run fifth inning, pushing its lead to 10-3. That margin held until Anderson tacked on three more RBIs to her total, sending a bases-clearing triple to right-center field. However, Hofstra retired the Mason side in order in the bottom of the seventh to hold on to the win.

Pride starter Erin Wade (2-4) earned the victory after pitching six innings.

Mason will look to salvage the weekend series tomorrow afternoon when the two teams take to the field at 12 p.m. for the series finale, the Patriots' final home game before opening a seven-game roadstand.