FAIRFAX, Va. - The
Patriots split a pair of games with Georgia State on Friday, winning the first
game by a score of 3-2 and losing the second game 6-0.
In the first game, the Panthers jumped on the board first by
scoring two runs in top of the first inning.
Mason was able to respond in the bottom of the second inning to tie the
game at two when Katie Rynex began the inning by singling to left field. Junior right fielder Samantha Barney followed
Rynex by singling to center. Designated
player Tiffany Webb singled on a sacrifice bunt attempt and loaded the bases
for Tori Dudley who eventually singled in Mason's first run of the game. Senior left fielder Alyssa See was able to
drive in the second run of the game by hitting an RBI groundout to the second
baseman.
After the second inning, Mason and Georgia State played to a
scoreless tie until the bottom of the seventh.
Pitcher Miranda Cranford had an excellent outing in her final series at
the Mason Softball Complex, pitching seven complete innings, scattering five
hits, striking out five and allowing just the two earned runs from the top of
the first inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Dudley began the Mason rally by
singling up the middle for her second hit of the day. The next batter was See who beat out a
dribbler to the shortstop for her second hit of the day, allowing freshman
standout Brooke Blankenship to come to the plate. Before Mason even recorded an out,
Blankenship delivered a walk off RBI double to left center to win the game.
In the second game, Georgia State once again struck first in
the top of the first inning by scoring two runs and eventually added one more
run in the top of the fifth inning.
Due to inclement weather off and on throughout the day, the
game was delayed for nearly an hour after multiple strikes of lightening hit
the Mason Softball Complex. Once play
resumed, Georgia State was able to take advantage of the time off by scoring
three runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Unfortunately, Mason was unable to put any runs on the board
in the sixth or seventh inning and fell by a final score of 6-0 in the second
game. The Patriots and Panthers will
play the third game of the series on Saturday at 12 noon where the Mason
seniors will be honored for their hard work and dedication throughout their
four years.
