PATRIOT HIGHLIGHTS

• Five Patriots recorded an RBI; Sydney Bales and Logan Pickford recorded RBI in Game #1, while Marlaina Bozek, Zoe Vozick and Kamryn Inman hit recorded theirs in Game #2

• Marlaina Bozek went 3-for-4 in Game #1

• Harlowe Nigh was able to keep Game #1 within a run with two consecutive strikeouts in the top of the seventh inning with the bases loaded.

• Kylie Wilkerson showed resilience and pitched her second consecutive complete game. She pitched six consecutive shutout innings after a five-run (one earned) first inning in Game #2.

• Kamryn Inman hit her first career RBI triple in Game #2

GAME ONE: GEORGE MASON 3, STONY BROOK 4
The Patriots scored the first run of the rain-delayed afternoon in the bottom of the second inning. Elyssa DeRosa (2-4, R) led the inning off with a single to left. Sydney Bales (1-2, R, RBI, BB) would then lay down a sacrifice bunt down the third base line to advance DeRosa to scoring position. After another quick out, sophomore catcher Logan Pickford (1-3, RBI) hit a single to left center to score DeRosa from second.

The Seawolves would answer with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, when right fielder Alyssa Costello led the inning off with a triple to left center, followed by a Catherine Anne Kupinski RBI single through the left side. Kupinski would advance to second off a sacrifice bunt, then second baseman Naiah Ackerman hit an RBI single to right center, scoring Kupinski.

Naiah Ackerman would add to her RBI total in the top of the sixth inning. With runners on second and third, the second baseman lined a 2-RBI single up the middle, doubling the Seawolves' lead.

The Patriots would get two runs back in bottom half of the frame. Maddy Myers (1-4) reached on base and advanced to second on an error. She would then be replaced by starting pitcher Carly Cooper (6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) to be a pinch runner. Elyssa DeRosa then advanced Cooper to third on a groundout. Sydney Bales laced a single through the left side, scoring Cooper.

The second run of the inning occurred on a Seawolf fielding error, allowing Logan Pickford to reach base safely and advanced to second, allowing Bales to score all the way from first.

At the top of the seventh inning, Harlowe Nigh (1.0 IP, 3 H 2 K) came to pitch in relief. After giving up three singles in four at-bats, the Seawolves were threatening to break the game wide open with the bases loaded. Nigh proceeded to strike out the following two batters, ending the threat and keeping the score to just 4-3.

It was Mason's turn in the bottom of the seventh to mount a late-game threat. After Stony Brook's relief pitcher Ashton Melaas recorded two quick outs to start the inning, Marlaina Bozek (3-4) recorded her third hit of the game to keep the game alive. Maddy Myers then recorded another hit, followed by Elyssa DeRosa. Unfortunately for the Patriots, with the bases loaded, Melaas recorded the final out of the game with a strikeout to Sydney Bales.


GAME TWO: GEORGE MASON 3, STONY BROOK 5
The second game saw Stony Brook storm out with a five-run first inning. After the first inning was over, starting pitcher Kylie Wilkerson (7.0 IP, 5 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) was able to settle down and toss six shutout innings. The freshman would finish her second consecutive start with a complete game.

The Patriots began to chip away at the lead starting in the bottom of the first inning. Rachel Warrens (1-4, R, SB) led the inning off with a single, followed by a stolen base. Marlaina Bozek (1-2, RBI, BB) was second to bat, where she laced an RBI single to right center, scoring Warrens.

The game would remain 5-1 until the bottom of the seventh inning. Freshman designated player Emily Lampela (1-3, R) beat out the Stony Brook's Kyra McFarland's throw from short to secure a leadoff hit. Following a Patriot strikeout for the second at-bat, senior catcher Zoe Vozick (2-3, 2B, RBI) hit a double down the left field line, scoring Lampela all the way from first. Ensuing batter Kamryn Inman (1-3, 3B, RBI) followed up with her first-career RBI triple that landed in left center and rolled to the wall. The score was now 5-3 and Stony Brook decided to switch their starting pitcher, Mia Hayes, who had nine strikeouts, for their closer Ashton Melaas again.

Melaas recorded her second consecutive save on the day by getting the next two batters out by way of strikeout and a pop out to short.

UP NEXT
Mason will continue their home opening weekend tomorrow, March 3, when they host Cornell in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

GAME PROGRAM (CORNELL): Click Here

LIVESTATS:
SUNDAY - vs. CORNELL

WATCH (ESPN+):
SUNDAY - vs. CORNELL (Game #1)
SUNDAY - vs. CORNELL (Game #2)