Fairfax, Va. -
The George Mason
softball team faced Delaware Saturday in a doubleheader that marked the
beginning of conference play. Game one
ended in a 1-0 shutout win over Delaware and game two was a 2-0 shutout in
favor of Delaware. These games continued
the streak of shutouts Mason has been involved in to seven games. During the streak Mason has shutout opponents
twice and have been shutout five times.
Mason's record is now 10-12 and Delaware is 8-18. Both teams are now 1-1 in conference
play.
Game
one started with Mason having a runner on second base in five straight innings
and it took until the fifth inning to finally push across a run. The inning started with a walk to Katie Rynex
and a sacrifice bunt from Stephanie Strother
that advanced Rynex to
second. Tiffany Webb
stepped up to the
plate next and hit an RBI single to center field that scored Rynex.
The
Patriots ran into a bit of trouble in the top of the sixth inning. With runners on first and second and two
outs, Stephanie Maher
replaced Miranda Cranford
in hopes of recording a four
out save. After a wild pitch that moved
the runners to second and third, Maher forced a ground out to get out of the
jam.
The
1-0 lead would prove to be enough as Maher allowed no runs in the top of the
seventh to record the first save of her career.
Cranford
started the game allowing no runs on four hits in 5.2 innings pitched, picking
up her third win of the season. She struck
out five batters and walked one. Maher recorded
the save pitching 1.1 innings and striking out a batter. She also hit a batter.
Webb
finished the game a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI. Tori Dudley
went 1-for-2 with a double that
led off game one. Megan Blank
, Rachael
Davies and Samantha Barney
each recorded a single. Barney also stole a base.
Delaware
started off game two with an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. A single to shortstop by Jenny Richards led
off the inning and she advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt. This was followed by a single to right field
by Lara Andrews that scored Richards.
Mason was able to escape the inning without any further damage.
Delaware
added to their score in the top of the third to lead Mason 2-0. A leadoff double by Richards to left center
field started the inning and she went to third on a sacrifice bunt from Michelle
McKinnon. Andrews followed with a RBI
sacrifice fly to center field that brought Richards home.
Mason
tried to put together a seventh inning rally but fell short losing by a score
of 2-0. Barney walked with one out and
Rynex followed with a double to right field.
With one out and runners on second and third Kathleen Conway struck out
Strother and Webb to end the game.
Kelsey
Byrd pitched a complete game giving up seven hits, and two earned runs. Delaware pitcher, Kathleen Conway, was dominating
in her start pitching a complete game shutout.
She allowed two hits, and four walks whiles striking out 14 Patriots to
pick up the win.
Lafferty
and Rynex recorded Mason's only hits with Rynex's hit being a double.
The
Patriots will finish up the series with one game on Sunday, scheduled to begin
at noon.
