FAIRFAX, Va. – On a rainy Sunday afternoon, extra innings were needed to decide the last game of a three-game series between George Mason (9-21, 2-4) and UNCW (11-18, 1-4). Mason would eventually win the game 6-5 off a Brooke Blankenship RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning. With the win Mason finished the series 2-1.
UNCW took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first off a KC Shue RBI bunt which brought Morgan McCann home. Mason would shut out the Seahawks with two three up and three down over the next two innings.
The Patriots took a commanding 5-1 lead in the third inning, scoring five runs. Cori Prince scored the first run for the Patriots off a Blankenship fielder's choice. With the bases loaded, Angela Maioran hit a bases clearing double bringing home Megan Blank, Blankenship, and Tiffany Webb. Maioran scored the fifth run of the inning off a Christina Gabriele single up the middle.
The Seahawks cut the Patriots lead to two in the fifth inning with Olivia Poplin and Camry Wagner scoring off a Shue single up the middle. Patriots still led the game 5-3.
UNCW tied the game with a seven inning rally. Shue hit a RBI single to score Jessica Rappe and Shue was able to score off a Casey Rowland single. Mason was unable to score any runs in the bottom of the inning sending the game into extras.
A throwing error in the first at bat of the ninth inning, which allowed Prince to reach, would plague the Seahawks as Prince would be responsible for scoring the game winning run. Prince was able to score after Blankenship, with one out in the inning, hit a single up the middle
Casey Herring was the winning pitcher for the Patriots. Shue was 3-for-4 at the plate for the Seahawks and had four RBI's.
Mason returns to the diamond Wednesday, April 3rd, for a doubleheader with the University of Virginia at 4 p.m.
