April 26, 2009

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason softball team honored its two seniors playing for the final time Sunday on their home field, but the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens spoiled the occasion as they defeated the Patriots, 6-0, to conclude the two teams' Colonial Athletic Association series.

Mason fell to 16-30 and 2-16 in the CAA as they were unable to complete the sweep over Delaware (21-18, 7-9) after taking both games on Saturday.

The Patriots were limited to just one hit by Delaware's Amanda Stacevicz, who picked up the win and improved to 10-9 in a complete game shutout. Mason junior starter Becky Anderson fell to 8-20 with the loss after allowing all six Blue Hen runs (one earned) in four innings of work.

UD's offense was led by a 2-for-3 game from leadoff hitter Katie DeSalvo, while Mason's lone hit came off the bat of Anderson, a leadoff double to begin the second inning.

Delaware broke open the scoreboard with three runs in the top of the second inning. Rachel Jones recorded her only hit of the day with a two-RBI double to center field. An RBI groundout by Shanette White put the third run on the scoreboard.

Two innings later, the Blue Hens added another three runs on an RBI sacrifice fly by Amanda Nyisztor and run-scoring singles by DeSalvo and Quinn Megargel. Freshman Miranda Cranford came in to pitch the fifth inning though, and did not allow a hit to keep the deficit at six. The Patriot offense, however, could not get going despite posting back-to-back 11-hit games on Saturday against Delaware.

Sunday's game was the final home contest for senior outfielders Alison Bryan and Meghan Hill.

Mason returns to action next weekend when it closes out the 2009 regular season with a three-game series at CAA rival James Madison. Friday's doubleheader is set for 3 p.m. with the finale scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday.