March 10, 2010

Mason-Hampton Box Score
Mason-Mount St. Mary's Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason softball team split its games on the final day of its Spring Midweek Invitational, topping Hampton 4-3 before a five-inning 11-2 loss to Mount St. Mary's. The Patriots' record stands at 2-6 following the day's games.

In the day's opening game against the Lady Pirates, Mason broke open a shutout in the third inning with three runs. Sophomore Tori Dudley drove in the leadoff runner, freshman Emily Lafferty, on an RBI single and following a catcher's obstruction call with freshman Megan Blank at bat, she moved to second base.

Dudley came home to score on a single by sophomore Rachael Davies up the middle, and Blank crossed the plate on senior Becky Anderson's single to shortstop in the very next at-bat, rounding out the three-run third inning which opened the scoreboard.

The Lady Pirates answered back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on a bases-loaded double down the left field line by Jada Jeffries, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Mason added another run in the top of the fifth inning, with a pair of runners in scoring position and one out, Davies blooped an out into shallow right field and sophomore Caitlin Stauffer hustled home, making the score 4-2. Hampton responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a single by Travonna Byrd.

Freshman Amanda Buffington (1-1) earned the win in her first collegiate start, striking out seven while allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Jeffries took the loss for the Lady Pirates after a complete-game effort.

Davies continued her RBI prowess into the second game, lining a base hit through the side of the infield to score sophomore See, who doubled for the first hit of the game. The Mount answered quickly, putting up four runs in each of the first two innings to take an 8-1 lead.

The Patriots' last run of the game came in the third on an RBI sacrifice fly by sophomore Katie Rynex, as with the bases loaded, Dudley came home to make the score 8-2. One inning later, the Mountaineers added three runs to their total, and Mason had no answer in the fifth to prevent the run-rule victory for the Mount.

Rynex took the loss as she pitched the opening one and one-third innings, allowing seven runs (four earned). See was 2-for-3 to lead the offense, while Liz Christiansen paced the Mount with two hits and three RBIs.

Mason will be back in action this weekend when they host the three-day Cherry Blossom Classic, weather permitting. Check GoMason.com for a full schedule of games and any schedule updates.