FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason Softball fell in a doubleheader, Saturday, against Colonial Athletic Association-foe Delaware. The Blue Hens took the first game by a 4-0 decision and upended the Patriots 4-1 in the second game. With the losses Mason falls to 9-25 overall and 1-6 in the conference. Delaware advanced to 27-8 overall and remain undefeated in conference play.
In the first game, Delaware took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jessica Grisler scored off a wild pitch. Grisler had reached on a single to right center.
With the bases loaded in the top of the second and no outs, Hannah George hit a RBI single allowing Lisa Stacevicz to score, the Blue Hens now held a 2-0 lead. Lauren McColgan fielded a ball from a Grisler in the next at bat and threw it to the plate preventing Marisa Newman from scoring. However, The Patriots defense would not be able to escape the inning without the Blue Hens scoring two more runs to bring the score to 4-0. There would be no more runs score by either team for the rest of the game.
After Mary O'Connor hit a single to left center and Lauren McColgan and Reagan Doiron each walked, Mason best scoring opportunity of the game came in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs already on the board and a pitching change by the Blue Hens the Patriots were unable to capitalize and came away with no runs scored.
Amanda Stacevicz was the winning pitcher for Delaware allowing only two hits and Anna Blessing picked up the loss. Chenxi Jiao was awarded the save.
The Blue Hens took a 3-0 lead in the second game after Shelby Jones hit a home run over the wall in left center scoring Stacevicz and Brenenman. Stacevicz had reached on a single up the middle and Brenenman reached on a fielder's choice.
The Patriots had a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the inning with the bases loaded but were unable to bring any runs in leaving three ducks left on the pond.
Delaware scored their fourth run in the fourth inning off a Grisler single bringing in Jones, who had reached on a double. The Blue Hens now held a 4-0 lead over the Patriots.
Mason scored its lone run of the day in the fifth inning off a Megan Blank RBI. Blank was out on the play but Brooke Blankenship, who had reached on a double, was able to score to bring the score to 4-1.
The Patriots left nine runners on base in the game and had six hits. Blankenship was 2-for-2 at the plate for Mason. Marisa Newman and Shelby Jones were both 2-for3 at the plate for the Blue Hens.
Mason and Delaware will conclude this three-game series when they return to action tomorrow for a 12 p.m. game at the George Mason Softball complex.
