FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (11-26) swept Hampton University (18-21) in a doubleheader, Tuesday afternoon at the George Mason softball complex. The Patriots defeated the Pirates 3-1 in the first game and took a 10-2 decision in five innings in the second game.
Hampton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Taylor McCoy, who reached on a walk, scored off a Kerissa Burruel RBI single.
Neither team scored until the Patriots put three on the board in the bottom of the sixth to give Mason a 3-1 lead. The Patriots' first two runs came off a Brooke Blankenship two-run double, allowing Tiffany Webb and Megan Blank, who reached on a single and hit by pitch, respectively to cross the plate.
Stephanie Maher was strong on the mound for the Patriots allowing only two hits and Tiffany Webb was 3-for-2. Bobbi Langlois and Kerissa Burruel had the only hits for the Pirates.
Hampton struck again early in the second game scoring two runs in the top of the first. Margaret Wilkins and Diamond Ponds hit back-to-back triples to start the inning. Ponds scored the second run for the Pirates, caught in a rundown the Patriots were unable to tag Ponds as she slid into home.
Mason rallied in the bottom of the inning to cut Hampton's lead in half. The Patriots took advantage of a throwing error, which allowed Megan Blank, who reached on a double, to score. The Pirates still held a 2-1 lead.
The Patriots took the lead in the bottom of the third inning scoring two unearned runs. Julia Czarnecki, who reached on an error, was brought home by a Blankenship RBI and Webb scored off an error. Mason now held a 3-2 advantage over Hampton.
Lauren McColgan added another run for Mason in the bottom of the fourth off a Webb RBI single bringing the score to 4-2.
Scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth, Mason clinched the win after five innings. With the bases loaded, Casey Price and Kaitie Kitts, who reached on a single and a walk, respectively scored off walks. Lindsay Merriken, who reached on a single, scored the seventh run after Webb grounded out to the shortstop giving Mason a 7-2 lead.
The Patriots' next two runs from McColgan and Czarnecki came off a Blank single to right center and a throwing error by the Pirates, the score was now 9-2.
Blankenship's double to right center would then bring home Blank allowing the Patriots to take a 10-2 decision in five innings.
Blank and Webb each had two RBI's apiece for Mason and Merriken was 3-for-2.
Mason returns to action tomorrow, April 10th, for a doubleheader with Maryland at 4 p.m. at the George Mason Softball Complex.
