April 7, 2010

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Senior Becky Anderson and sophomore Miranda Cranford each pitched a one- and two-hit complete game shutout, respectively, while the George Mason softball team's offense found success in a pair of 8-0, five-inning victories over Maryland-Eastern Shore on Wednesday afternoon in the Patriots' final home midweek doubleheader of the season.

Mason improved to 10-16 on the year while the Hawks fell to 1-18 after dropping both games.

Anderson held the Hawks hitless through four and two-thirds innings, tallying six strikeouts with no walks. With two down in the top of the fifth, pinch hitter Shanice Crowder hit a sharp grounder which third baseman Megan Blank was able to knock down, but Crowder beat out the throw to prevent the no-hitter.

By that point, Mason had put up four runs in each of the final two offensive innings to induce a run-rule victory when Britney McLeod was picked off after trying to steal second base.

RBI base hits by freshman Emily Lafferty and Anderson in the bottom of the third inning kicked off the scoring, and the duo both came home to score on a pair of passed balls to make the score 4-0.

One inning later, sophomore Rachael Davies followed up a leadoff walk to Blank with an RBI single up the middle. Lafferty tacked on two more RBIs with her base hit through the middle of the infield, and junior Stephanie Strother's run-scoring groundout made it an 8-0 ballgame. Inde Whitehurst took the loss for the Hawks and dropped to 0-5 on the season.

When the teams hit the field for game two, Mason wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as leadoff batter Tori Dudley scored on an RBI double by sophomore Katie Rynex. Two innings later, Rynex singled up the middle to score Dudley once again, and Blank brought her home on a triple to left-center field.

Two more Patriot runs came in the fourth inning to make it 6-0, as sophomore Alyssa See reached on a bases-loaded fielder's choice, and Rynex flew out to left field with one out, allowing senior Kate Bustin to score from third on the sacrifice fly.

After an RBI groundout by junior Kara Weiner left the score 7-0, Alyssa See dropped a base hit into right field and brought in two runners to induce the run-rule victory. Cranford, meanwhile, scattered just two hits and allowed no walks for her fourth victory of the season. Ebony Hahn took the loss and fell to 0-5.

Mason continues its homestand when the Patriots host Towson for a Colonial Athletic Association series, beginning Saturday at 2 p.m.