April 27, 2010

Free LIVE Audio for Wednesday's Game

After opening the season with 21 straight home games, the George Mason softball team will take its home field for the final time on Wednesday when the Patriots host George Washington. First pitch from the Mason Softball Complex is set for 4 p.m., with free live audio available on GoMason.com.

Mason is coming off a 1-0 victory in the series finale against Georgia State on Sunday, which improved the Patriots record to 16-22. With a win Wednesday against the Colonials, the Patriots can surpass their win total from last season with six games remaining on the schedule.

On Sunday, sophomore Katie Rynex homered for the first time in her career and senior Becky Anderson pitched a five-hit complete game shutout to pick up the win on Senior Day. It was also the 100th career victory for Mason head coach Joe Verbanic and marked Anderson's sixth complete-game shutout of the season, tying Mason's single-season record.

Anderson's 1.56 ERA and 9-5 record paces the Mason pitching staff, while sophomore Rachael Davies leads the Patriot offense with her .284 batting average. With 22 runs batted in and eight extra-base hits, Rynex leads the team in both of those categories.

George Washington will make the short trip to Fairfax sporting a 5-35 record on the season, with a 10-game winless streak that dates back to Mason's 6-3 victory over GW on Apr. 14 in the nation's capital. Lauren Wilson leads the Colonial offense with a .237 batting average, including a team-high six RBIs.

In that meeting two weeks ago at Mount Vernon Field, the Patriots jumped on the lead with five runs in the first two innings, with two-RBI games from Rynex and freshman Megan Blank.

Following the midweek contest, the Patriots will travel to UNC Wilmington for a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series beginning at Noon on Saturday.