March 7, 2009

Mason-CCSU Box Score
Mason-Cornell Box Score

George Mason Invitational Central

FAIRFAX, Va. - In the second day of the George Mason Invitational, the Patriot softball team split its games, downing Central Connecticut State, 10-3, before falling to Cornell, 5-0, on Saturday morning at George Mason Field.

Mason (8-7) used an offensive explosion to overcome a early 3-run deficit against the Blue Devils, while the Big Red jumped out to an early lead and held down the Patriot offense.

In the day's opening game, freshman Morgan Davis led the Patriots with a 3-for-4, four-RBI outing. Those four RBIs came on a bases-loaded shot to left field in the third inning, clearing the fence for Davis's first career grand slam. The round-tripper gave the Patriots the lead after CCSU put up three runs in the first inning.

From there, freshman Miranda Cranford (2-1) and the Patriots shut the Blue Devils down, not allowing another run. Cranford gave up just two hits in the complete-game victory while striking out four batters.

Mason, the designated visiting team, added three runs to its total in each of the sixth and seventh innings. A two-RBI single by senior Alison Bryan, followed by a base hit by freshman Alyssa See which scored Bryan, put Mason ahead 7-3 in the sixth. In the seventh, Cranford helped her own cause with a two-RBI double to left-center field, and sophomore Kate Bustin punctuated the victory with a run-scoring single to shortstop.

Erin Kelley and Jaclyn Logan notched the two Blue Devil hits, while starter Rachel Brenneman took the loss.

After a short break, Mason retook the field but ran into a strong pitching performance by Cornell's Elizabeth Dalrymple, who limited the Patriots to just one hit while fanning 11 batters. Junior Becky Anderson (5-3) was tagged with the loss.

Dalrymple was perfect through four innings before Davis reached on an error, and Mason's best scoring chance came an inning later, when senior Meghan Hill walked and See tallied the lone Mason hit, a single through the left side.

Cornell's offense came on an RBI sacrifice fly in the first inning by Elyse Menaker, and four runs in the second inning, ending with a Menaker two-RBI single to left field.

The Patriots will be back in action Sunday as the George Mason Invitational concludes. Mason plays in the final two games of the day, facing CCSU and Niagara at 1:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., respectively.