FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason softball team (4-13) swept the Princeton Tigers (4-10) in a midweek doubleheader, winning the first game 2-1 and the second game 1-0 after a walk-off single.
Casey Herring got the start in the circle for the Patriots in the first game against Princeton. Herring was locked in a pitching duel with Shanna Christian with the game kept scoreless through three innings.
After Princeton scored a run in the fourth inning, the Patriots struck back immediately, tying the game in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a Heather Ferguson RBI single.
Mason was able to take the lead in the next inning after Christina Gabriele hit a single to bring in Brooke Blankenship from third base. The Patriots held on to the lead to win the game 2-1. Herring pitched six innings and gave up just three hits on one earned run. Sarah Kleinfelter earned the save after pitching the final inning and giving up zero hits.
The second game was another pitching duel, this time between Christina Gabriele and Ashley LaGuardia. This game was kept scoreless all the way until the bottom of the seventh inning. In the bottom of the seventh, and runners on the corners, senior Angela Maioran hit a single through the right side to bring in Lindsay Merriken for the walk-off win.
Gabriele pitched all seven innings and gave up just two hits in the final game. The Patriots open conference play this weekend against UMass. A doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday along with another game at 12 p.m. on Sunday.
