March 7, 2010
Mason-Marist Box Score
Mason-Cornell Box Score
In the final day of the season-opening George Mason Invitational, the Patriots softball team dropped a pair of 2-1 decisions to Marist and Cornell on a sunny Sunday afternoon at George Mason Softball Complex.
The Patriots dropped their opening game of the day, as Mason was edged by Marist by a 2-1 margin, with the Red Foxes doing all of their scoring in the opening frame. Kate Malloy hit a two-RBI double to left field with two outs on the board to give Marist the early lead.
Mason answered with a run in the second inning, slicing the deficit in half as junior Stephanie Strother walked to lead off the inning, stole two bases, and came home to score on an RBI fielder's choice by junior Caitlin Stauffer. The Patriots' next chance to score came in the fourth inning with the bases loaded and two outs, but a strikeout ended the threat.
In the seventh and final inning, Mason had two runners in scoring position with two outs, but a flyout gave the Red Foxes their lone win of the tournament. Sophomore Miranda Cranford (0-2) took the loss after allowing both Marist runs in three innings of work. Danielle Koltz (1-0) pitched a complete game to earn the win for the Red Foxes.
The Patriots returned to action in the final game of the tournament, and struck first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Tori Dudley led off with a bunt single and came home to score on an RBI single through the left side by senior Becky Anderson.
Anderson (1-0), who took the loss in a complete game effort in the circle, would hold the Big Red at bay until the fifth inning. Three straight Cornell singles loaded the bases and a throwing error by Mason with two outs allowed two runners to score.
Mason would get a baserunner into scoring position in each of the final two innings on sacrifice bunts with no outs, but could not bring a runner across the plate as the Big Red completed a 4-0 weekend at the George Mason Invitational while the host Patriots fell to 1-3.
The Patriots will be back in action when they host the Mason Spring Midweek Invitational on Tuesday and Wednesday, as they welcome Hampton and Mount St. Mary's to the George Mason Softball Complex for the two-day tourney.
