April 21, 2010
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
EMMITSBURG, Md. - A strong first inning in game one of the George Mason softball team's doubleheader at Mount St. Mary lifted the Patriots to a 5-1 victory before the Mountaineers came back with an 11-3 win in the nightcap for the two teams' split twinbill on a drizzly Wednesday afternoon at Meadows Field.
Mason stands at 15-20 following its final midweek doubleheader of the season, while the Mount is 23-20.
Senior Becky Anderson pitched a complete game in game one to improve to 8-4 on the season, scattering six hits and one run while striking out seven. Amanda Hanson (7-10) took the loss in a complete-game, allowing nine hits to a Mason offense led by multi-hit games from sophomores Alyssa See (3-for-4) and Katie Rynex (2-for-3) and freshman Megan Blank (2-for-3).
The Patriots plated four runs in the top of the first, opening with three straight singles including sophomore Rachael Davies' RBI single to center field. Rynex drove in a run when she reached on an error, and the scoring was rounded out by a run-scoring hit by Blank and an RBI sacrifice fly by Anderson.
Anderson and the Patriots held the Mount scoreless until the third inning, when a Liz Christiansen hit to center scored Courtney Zingle. Mason countered with an RBI single off the bat of Rynex in the top of the fourth, scoring See. Neither team could dent the scoreboard again in the game, including six straight outs by the Mountaineers to close out the win.
Mason captured the early lead once again when the teams took the field for game two, using a double steal which moved See to second and allowed leadoff runner Tori Dudley to cross the plate. The Patriots took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth, as junior Stephanie Strother lined a double into center which scored classmate Kara Weiner, and Dudley matched Strother's feat with a two-bagger into center field.
The Mount tied the game in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs on RBIs tallied by Christiansen, Allie Vadas and Alexa Tuck. One inning later, Mount St. Mary's took the lead for good on a RBI double by Erin Leddy and Christiansen's three-run home run.
Another three-run home run in the sixth inning, this time by Taylor Beebe, combined with a Christiansen RBI double pushed the Mount lead to 11-3 and induced the run-rule victory in the sixth.
Sophomore Miranda Cranford (5-12) was tagged with the loss after allowing nine runs in five and one-third innings. Amanda Sadowl improved to 12-8 with her complete-game win for the Mount, who was led by Christiansen's 3-for-4, five-RBI game. Dudley paced the Mason offense with a 2-for-3 game.
Mason, who has just one non-conference game remaining, will return home this weekend to face Georgia State in a three-game Colonial Athletic Association set as part of the Patriots' Alumni/Senior Weekend. In between games of Saturday's 12 p.m. doubleheader against the Panthers, Mason will honor former Patriot Stacy James who was selected among the 25 greatest players in CAA history. On Sunday, prior to the 12 p.m. first pitch, the Patriots will recognize seniors Anderson and Kate Bustin for their contributions to the program.
