FAIRFAX, Va. – Norfolk State (25-18) swept George Mason (15-34) in a doubleheader on Wednesday at the George Mason softball complex. The Spartans took the first game by a 2-0 decision and the second, 4-3.
The Spartans wasted no time putting one on the board in the top of the first inning. Morgan Boyd scored for Norfolk State off an Alina Moriarty double to right center. Boyd had originally reached on a bunt single.
Mason was in scoring position in the bottom of the first with Megan Blank on third after reaching on a walk. The Patriots were unable to capitalize as Regan Doiron flew out to right field for the third out.
Norfolk State extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the sixth. Nikki Jones, who reached on a walk, scored off a Moriarty sacrifice fly to center field.
Brooke Blankenship was 2-for-3 at the plate for the Patriots and Boyd was 2-for-3 at the plate for the Spartans. Jamie Schulle was the winning pitcher.
In the second game, Mason took a 2-0 lead of two unearned runs in the bottom of the second. Sarah Solano, who reached on a single, scored off a Julia Czarnecki walk. Kaitlyn Griffith scored the second run when Tiffany Webb was hit by a pitch.
Mason extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third. Casey Price scored off a Kaitlyn Griffith sacrifice fly RBI.
Norfolk State cut the Patriots to one run in the top of the fourth Whitney Williams scored off a Haley Ward double to left center. Williams had originally reached on single up the middle. Ward scored the second run in the inning off a Melina Valles single to left field. Mason still led the game 3-2.
The Spartans took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth. Heather Dunning scored off a Robyn Mitchell double to left center. Dunning had originally reached on a single to third base. Boyd added the second run off an error.
Tori Rodriguez was 3-for-3 at the plate for the Patriots and Ward was 2-for-3 for the Spartans. Liz Riley was the winning pitcher for the Spartans.
Mason returns to action this weekend when they travel to Towson for a Colonial Athletic Association three-game series beginning Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
