FAIRFAX, Virginia – The George Mason softball team sweeps the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The Patriots won the first game 15-0 in five innings and the second game 8-0 in six innings. The Patriots improve their record to 21-16 on the season with the two wins while the Hawks drop to 7-35 on the season following the consecutive losses.
Game 1:
Offense was the story of the day for the Patriots as they were able to score 15 runs off of 16 hits. Mason got off to an early start scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The first coming off of a bases loaded walk sending Julia Czarnecki home. Lauren McColgan then sent a sacrifice fly into center field to bring home Brooke Blankenship. The Patriots really opened up the offense in the third and fourth innings.
In the bottom of the third inning Blankenship started the offensive onslaught reaching on an infield single, then stole second. Angela Maioran then brought her home with a RBI single through the right side. Breanna Boyd then knocked a two RBI single into center field which scored Maioran and McColgan after she reached on a bunt. Mary O'Connor then stepped to the plate and reached on a bunt and advanced to second off a throwing error by the pitcher. Czarnecki then continued the offense reaching on an infield single, which scored Boyd. Tiffany Webb then hit a RBI single up the middle to score O'Connor and cap off a six run inning for the Patriots.
Mason continued their hot hitting into the fourth inning to explode for seven more runs. Cori Prince hit a two RBI double down the right field line to score Casey Price and McColgan after both players reached on infield singles. Boyd then hit a RBI double into left center for her third RBI of the game, to score Prince. O'Connor then hit a sacrifice fly into center field to bring home Boyd. After Czarnecki and Webb each hit singles through the left side of the infield, Blankenship reached on another infield single to score Czarnecki. Price then brought the two home with a two RBI triple into right field. This capped off the seven run inning for the Patriots and brought their total to 15, the seventh time this season the Patriots have scored 10 or more runs in a game.
Anna Blessing got the start in game one for the Patriots and she was in command all day, pitching four shutout innings allowing only three hits to go along with four strikeouts. Sarah Kleinfelter came in for the fifth inning to complete the shutout allowing no hits with one strikeout. Blessing picked up the win to improve to 8-5 on the season.
Abria Tinsley got the start for UMES, but she was pulled in the first inning as Kaitlyn Hitch came in to pitch. The Hawks were only able to manage three hits coming from Chelsea Alston, Emily Diseroad, and Ciara Williams.
Game 2:
The offense continued to click for Mason in the second game as the Patriots were able to score eight runs off of 13 hits. The Patriots got off to another great start in the bottom of the first with Blankenship hitting a RBI double through the left side of the infield to score Czarnecki after she was able to reach on a bunt. Mason continued their scoring by scoring three runs in both the second and third innings. In the second, Mary O'Connor hit a RBI single to score McColgan, which was followed by Webb knocking a two RBI single into left center to score O'Connor and Prince after she reached on a single earlier in the inning.
In the third inning, Prince hit two RBI triple into left center, scoring Boyd and McColgan. Prince had four RBI on the day after hitting two in the first game as well to finish her big day going four for five with four RBI. O'Connor then brought Prince home off an RBI single for her third RBI of the day and second of the game. The Patriots capped off their huge scoring day with a RBI triple from Blankenship in the sixth inning.
Christina Gabriele got the start in game two and pitched a great scoreless four innings allowing only two hits and recording a strikeout. Stephanie Maher came on in the fifth inning to complete the shutout allowing no hits and striking out one in her two innings of relief. Gabriele picked up the win to improve to 5-5 on the season. Overall, the Patriots played great all day from all aspects of the game.
Kelly Cullen pitched the complete game two for the Hawks allowing seven earned runs off of 13 hits. Her offense did not help her out much with only two hits in the game, one from Vanessa Gomez and the other from Trenece Nash.
Up next: The Patriots kick off a busy weekend on Friday April 25 with a game against A-10 opponent Dayton. Mason will play Dayton again on Saturday April 26 and will finish out the weekend against fellow conference opponent Saint Louis on Sunday April 27 in a double header.
