Fairfax, Va. -
The George Mason
softball team faced the Drexel Dragons on Saturday in a conference doubleheader
dropping the first game by a score of 1-2 but used some late inning heroics
from Kaila Conlon
to win the second game 4-3 and to win the series. It was the first time the Patriots have won a
conference series this year. Mason improved
to 14-23 and 4-10 in the CAA while Drexel dropped to 13-24 overall and 5-10 in
the CAA.
The
Dragons struck first in game one with two runs in the top of the fourth inning
to lead 2-0.
Mason
answered back with one run in the bottom of the fifth inning to tighten the
score to 1-2. Reagan Doiron
started the
inning with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a sacrifice
bunt from Katie Rynex
and advanced to third on a ground out by Lauren
McColgan. Tiffany Webb
followed with a
hit to shortstop where there was an error that allowed Doiron to score.
The
Patriots were unable to generate much offense in the game recording only one
hit in the final two innings and four hits overall losing by the final score of
1-2.
Miranda
Cranford started game one pitching four innings allowing four hits, two earned
runs and two walks. She picked up her
eighth loss of the year. Stephanie Maher
finished the final three innings allowing three hits and two walks while
striking out three.
Mason
managed just four hits in the game and they were all singles. Webb, Megan Blank
, Rachael Davies
and Doirion
all recorded hits and Doiron also score the Patriots only run.
After
two quick outs in the first inning of game two Kelsey Byrd
allowed a single to
right followed by a home run blasted over the left field wall making the score
0-2.
Byrd
settled down keeping the Dragons from crossing the plate until the sixth inning
when she allowed a single and a walk to start the inning. She was replaced by Stephanie Maher
who gave
up an RBI single to the next batter bringing the score to 3-0. Maher was able to force three ground outs to
end the inning without any further damage.
The
Patriots got something going in the sixth with Tori Dudley
and Kaila Conlon
each recording singles. Rachael Davies
walked with one out to load the bases for Reagan Doiron
who reached on a fielder's
choice with the out coming at home.
Drexel pitcher, Shelby Taylor, was able to force Katie Rynex
to fly out
to left to end the inning with the 3-0 lead still intact.
Mason
used an exciting seventh inning to win the game 4-3. The inning started when Tiffany Webb
and
Megan Blank
each hit singles with one out.
The bases were loaded after Tori Dudley
was hit by a pitch, but Emily
Lafferty struck out to bring up freshman Kaila Conlon
with two outs. Conlon promptly hit a walk off grand slam
over the left field wall. It was her
first home run of her career and she picked a great time to do it helping Mason
earn the series victory.
Kelsey
Byrd got the nod for game two pitching five innings allowing five hits, three
earned runs, and three walks while striking out a batter. Maher came in to pitch the remaining two innings
allowing a hit and a walk and picked up her team-leading seventh win of the
year.
Conlon
ended the game 2-for-4 with four RBI, a home run and a run scored and Tori Dudley
finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Blank,
Webb, Davies and Rynex all each recorded singles. Webb and Blank also scored a run.
The Patriots will next travel to
George Washington on Wednesday, April 27. It is a nonconference game
scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.
