FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason softball team (18-26) split their doubleheader with University of Maryland Eastern Shore (16-30) on Wednesday afternoon
The Patriots took the win in the first game of the day 8-7 before falling 5-3 late to the Hawks.
Game 1: UMES (15-30) vs. Mason (18-25)
UMES had hot hitting early on in the game, scoring four runs in the first inning of play. The Hawks then put two more runs on the board in the top of the second inning to take the 6-0 advantage over the Patriots.
Mason was able to add a run to their side of the column in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore
Sydney Bales put herself on base with a single down the right field line. Junior
Rachel Warrens was then hit by pitch, advancing Bales over to second.
To follow, redshirt sophomore
Nicole Bechtel earned her spot on base on a fielders choice. Freshman
Madi Williams was hit by pitch, advancing to first to load the bases. Senior
Amber Verstynen hit a single up the middle, earning an RBI on the play.
The Patriots were able to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning after scoring five runs. With zero outs, Mason was able to load the bases off of a single from senior
Taylor Dadig, a walk on senior
EJ Bankson, and a single to left center from junior
Haley Taormina. In the first pitch of her at bat, Bales slams the ball deep into the right corner of the field to earn an in the park grand slam, making it a 6-5 game.
To continue the inning, Warrens hits a single to left center and Bechtel reaches base on an error from the Hawk's third baseman, putting runners in scoring position. On a 1-2 count, Williams hits a single through the left side to score Warrens.
Mason added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring two more runs to make it an 8-6 game. With two outs, a trio of singles from Dadig, Bankson, and Taormina, scored the first run of the inning. In the next Patriot's at-bat, Taormina made an attempt to steal second, distracting the Hawks so that Bankson could make a run from third to home to score the final run of the inning.
The Hawks put up one more run in the top of the seventh inning, but it was not enough as Mason took the 8-7 win.
Freshman
Alexandra Anderson earned the start and the win in the first game. Anderson pitched her first complete game of the season.
Game 2: UMES (16-30) vs. Mason (18-26)
Similar to the first game, UMES started hot, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. A duo of double from the Hawks proved vital in their offensive effort of the inning.
Mason rallied back in the bottom of the first inning, scoring two runs to make it a 3-2 game. Sophomore
Marlaina Bozek led off the inning for the Patriots, hitting a double to center field before advancing to third on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly out to center field from Taormina was able to send Bozek home. The Green & Gold were able to load the bases on a trio of walks before scoring their second run of the inning on a walk.
In an offensive stalemate, Mason was able to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sophomore
Carly Cooper led off the inning for the Patriots, hitting a single up the middle. This was Cooper's first hit of the season. Cooper then stole second, a season first, before advancing to third on a wild pitch. With a runner in scoring position, junior
Maddy Myers hit a sacrifice fly out to right field to send Cooper home.
In a pivotal seventh inning, UMES was able to take the 5-3 lead, scoring two runs off a sacrifice bunt and a double to left center.
The Patriots attempted to rally offensive momentum on back-to-back singles but were unsuccessful.
Freshman
Madi Williams earned the start in the second game. Williams pitched the first inning before she was relieved by freshman
Jordan Anderson. Anderson pitched for four complete innings before she was relieved by Cooper who closed out the game.
UP NEXT
Mason will close out their home slate with a conference series against Rhode Island on Apr. 30-May 1. The Patriots will honor five seniors before Saturday's 3 p.m. game.
