March 31, 2009
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason softball team faced a tough opponent in its final home midweek action of the season, and the Patriots gave Virginia a strong effort but ultimately dropped a pair of games to the Cavaliers, 3-2 and 5-1, at George Mason Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Mason fell to 13-19 with the losses, while the Cavaliers improved to 20-9.
In the first game, freshman Tori Dudley put Mason ahead in the bottom of the first inning as she blasted a two-run home run to center field. The Cavaliers countered an inning later, scoring a pair of runs on an RBI triple by Casey Steffan and a run-scoring single by Alison Pittman.
That would be the final scoring in the scheduled seven innings, as Virginia's Karla Wilburn (15-4) and Mason junior Becky Anderson (7-12) engaged in a pitcher's duel.
Anderson allowed just one hit for the final six innings, but was charged with the loss after UVa scored in the top of the eighth. Pittman began the inning on second base according to tiebreaker rules and scored on an RBI groundout by Carly Winger.
Mason had a chance in the bottom half to extend the contest, as freshman Alyssa See began the frame at second base. She advanced to third on a groundout, but with two outs, Wilburn induced a pop-up by Dudley to earn the victory.
Sophomore Anush Mooradian led the Mason offense, going 2-for-3 in the first game, while Pittman was 2-for-4 to lead the Cavaliers at the plate.
In the nightcap, the Cavaliers combined to no-hit Mason through five innings as they built a 5-0 lead. Sarah Tacke had a two-run home run in the first inning, Steffan notched an RBI base hit in the second, and Virginia added two more runs in the fifth inning.
Mason ended the no-hit bid in the sixth inning, as See took an 0-1 pitch with one out up the middle for the Patriots' first hit of the day. See would come around to score on an RBI single to left off Dudley's bat.
The Patriots had a chance to tie it up in the fourth, as back-to-back walks with a runner on loaded the bases. Junior Alison Bryan represented the tying run, but with two outs, her pop-up to shallow right field drew the game to a close.
Nicole Koren (1-0) earned the victory for UVa in a predetermined split, while freshman Miranda Cranford (5-4) took the loss, pitching a complete game. Four different Patriots recorded a hit in the contest, while Pittman led the Virginia offense with a 3-for-4 outing.
Mason will look to rebound tomorrow afternoon when it travels to George Washington for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
