CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia - The George Mason softball team picks up two wins in a doubleheader at UVA after a hitting frenzy resulted in 32 combined runs. The Patriots improve its record to 10-13 on the season, while UVA drops to 4-24.
GAME 1
The Green and Gold started off the doubleheader by scoring a season-best 17 runs on 18 hits in the game. After Julia Czarnecki and Mary' O'Connor both singled on a bunt, Casey Price continued her hot streak by driving in a run for the Patriots. After two consecutive walks for the Patriots, Cori Prince singled to left field to make the score 4-0. The scoring barrage ended after Brooke Blankenship hit into a fielders choice to pick up an RBI. All in all, Mason picked up nine runs in the third inning to grab a huge lead.
Tiffany Webb started off the 7th inning with a single to right center, picking up two RBI and advancing Czarnecki to third base. With two runners on, Brooke Blankenship blasted her first home run of the season to pick up three RBI. The Patriots ended up scoring three more runs after the home run to pick up the 17-6 win.
Stephanie Maher picked up the start and the win for the Green and Gold in the first game. Maher pitched an impressive 3.2 innings and gave up zero earned runs on only three hits. Christina Gabriele also pitched for the Patriots. Gabriele pitched 3.1 innings and gave up only one earned run on just two hits.
Lauren McColgan, Czarnecki, Webb, Prince, and O'Connor each had a multi-hit game in a dominating hitting performance by the Patriots. Blankenship also picked up a team-high five RBI in this first game.
Marcy Bowdren, who hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning, led the Cavaliers on offense. Meanwhile, Aimee Chapdelaine picked up the start and the loss for UVA, pitching 2.1 innings and giving up seven hits and five earned runs. Lindsay Mayer also pitched for the Cavaliers, giving up eight earned runs in 4.2 innings.
GAME 2
The Patriots had the bats swinging again the second game. After scoring 17 runs in the first game against the Cavaliers, Mason kept the momentum and scored 15 more runs in the final game to win 15-5.
After Julia Czarnecki and Tiffany Webb both reached base, Brooke Blankenship hit her second three-run home run of the day to give the Patriots the lead in the first inning. After two more runs, the Patriots led 5-1 at the end of the first inning.
The Green and Gold picked up two more runs in the second inning after Blankenship and Casey Price both scored a run.
After Webb reached base in the fifth inning, Blankenship blasted her third home run of the day for the Patriots to pick up two RBI. Mason scored another run in the sixth inning after a Heather Ferguson double brought in Cori Prince. The Patriots would end up scoring five more runs in the seventh inning to eventually win the game 15-5.
Anna Blessing picked up the start and the win for the Green and Gold, pitching three innings and giving up zero runs on only one hit. Sarah Kleinfelter also pitched in the game, giving up one earned run in 2.1 innings. Meanwhile, Casey Herring pitched the final 1.2 innings of the game and gave up just one hit.
Lauren McColgan, Ferguson, Webb, and Blankenship each picked up multiple hits in the second game for the Patriots. Blankenship also picked up five more RBI in the game to give her a total of three home runs and 10 RBI in the doubleheader.
Aimee Chapdelaine picked up the start and the loss for the Cavaliers despite only pitching in the first inning. Chapdelaine gave up four earned runs on two hits. Marcy Bowdren pitched seven innings for UVA, giving up eight earned runs.
Meanwhile, Heidi Velk led the Cavalier offense, picking up three RBI on a home run.
Up Next: The Patriots host its A-10 home opener against St. Bonaventure in a Saturday doubleheader on March 29. The first game is set to start at 12:00 p.m. at the George Mason Softball Complex.
