March 27, 2010

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason softball team used a patient approach at the plate in game two of its Colonial Athletic Association season-opening doubleheader against James Madison as the Patriots picked up a 6-5 victory following a 5-0 loss to the Dukes on Saturday afternoon at George Mason Softball Complex.

Mason (8-10, 1-1 CAA) took advantage of nine walks issued by the JMU (13-17, 1-1) pitching staff in the second game of the twinbill and never trailed, ultimately scoring the game-winning run in the fifth inning. Stephanie Strother dropped an RBI single into shallow right field, allowing Emily Lafferty to score after she doubled off the wall in center to bring home Megan Blank.

That made the score 6-4, and the Dukes added a run in the sixth on a Brittney Dyson double to left center but JMU could not close the gap. Mason never trailed from the outset after a two-run first inning opened the scoring. JMU cut it to 2-1 but Mason added two more in the fourth, as a pair of full-count, bases-loaded walks issued to Tori Dudley and Alyssa See left the Patriots with a 4-1 lead.

JMU knotted the score with three runs in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI hit by Ashley Burnham and a two-RBI double off the bat of Shannon Moxey. However, the Patriots' fifth-inning counterpunch proved to be powerful enough to hold on for the victory.

Freshman Amanda Buffington improved to 2-1 as she tossed a complete game for Mason, while Heather Dindinger (3-7) took the loss working the final two and one-third innings in relief.

In the day's opening contest, Cara Stecher (5-6) pitched a complete-game shutout for the Dukes while JMU scored the eventual go-ahead run in the third inning on an RBI fielder's choice. With both teams stranding 11 baserunners in the game, scoring was sparse in the early going.

Dyson's single through the left side of the infield brought home Casey Mansfield in the fifth inning , and JMU added three more runs in the sixth inning to set the final margin. Sophomore Miranda Cranford took the loss and fell to 3-6 after allowing all five runs in 5.2 innings.

Mason, which had not defeated James Madison since 2006, will go for the series victory on Sunday when the Patriots and Dukes meet up for the rubber game at noon.