WHO: Softball vs Saint Joseph's
WHERE: Philadelphia, Pa.
FINAL SCORE: Saint Joseph's 3, Mason 2
KEY PLAYERS: Heather Ferguson 1-3, 1R, Sarah Kleinfelter, L (5-8) 5.2IP, 2ER, 2BB, 7H, 2K, Julia Czarnecki 2-3, Casey Price 1-3, 1RBI
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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4th
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5th
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6th
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7th
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R
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H
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E
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George Mason (19-18) (6-7)
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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2
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2
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6
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1
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Saint Joseph's (16-17-1) (4-7-1)
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0
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0
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0
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0
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1
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2
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X
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3
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7
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3
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Philadelphia, Pa. – George Mason University's softball team clawed back from a 3-0 deficit but fell short in the top of the seventh, losing 3-2. The Patriots were able to take two of three at Saint Joseph's but were unable to earn a series sweep.
The first four innings of the game went by in a flash due to great pitching by both teams. Senior pitcher Sarah Kleinfelter continued to keep the Hawks off the board, scattering three hits over the first four innings of the game.
Saint Joe's would get to Kleinfelter in the fifth inning when the Hawks hit an RBI single with two outs to take a 1-0 lead. The Patriots were unable to respond in the top half of the sixth and Saint Joe's used their momentum to put two more runs on the board when it was their turn to bat.
Despite the three run deficit the Patriots showed no signs of quitting. With one out, junior designated player Heather Ferguson smacked a double to deep right-field, then advanced to third on a throwing error before taking home on another throwing error. This cut the Hawks' lead to two and brought up freshman first baseman Samantha Zaccari.
Zaccari doubled down the right-field line and forced a Saint Joe's pitching change. With two outs, senior left-fielder Julia Czarnecki hit an infield single moving Zaccari to third and presented senior centerfielder Casey Price with an opportunity to cut the lead down even further.
Price obliged, hitting a single into the gap between center and right putting the tying run on third for junior second baseman McKenzie Jones. Jones hit a chopper to the Hawks' shortstop and nearly made it to first as the tying runner scored but was out by a step and the game ended in favor of Saint Joe's.
STAT BREAKDOWN
-Neither team scored in the first, third or fourth inning's this weekend.
-In both game two and game three, Saint Joe's scored two runs in the sixth only for Mason to match or better the Hawks in the top of the seventh.
-Czarnecki had a solid weekend for the Patriots, as she went 6-8 (.750) with one walk and one run batted in.
NEXT ON THE DIAMOND
Mason faces Mount St. Mary's for a home non-conference doubleheader, Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
