KINGSTON, R.I. – The George Mason softball team (19-32, 10-15 A-10) split the Saturday doubleheader with Rhode Island (15-36, 10-15 A-10) at the URI Softball Complex. The Patriots took Game One in extra innings with a 3-1 score, and the Rams won Game Two by the score of 5-4.
The Patriots knocked the Rams out of Atlantic 10 Tournament contention with Game One's win; however, UMass's walk-off win over Saint Joseph's shortly after the conclusion of Game One knocked George Mason out of potential postseason play as well.
PATRIOT HIGHLIGHTS
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In Game One, Maddy Myers tied the game at 1-1 in the seventh inning with an RBI ground out, scoring Charlotte Montgomery. In the eighth, Rachel Warrens scored the go-ahead run with an RBI sacrifice bunt, followed by a Montgomery RBI single.
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Harlowe Nigh pitched in relief in Game One and earned her third win of the season.
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In Game Two, Zoe Vozick hit a season-high two RBI. Myers added another RBI to her team-high total later in the game.
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The Patriots tried to tie the game late in the seventh inning with a squeeze attempt, but the Rams tagged the runner out at home.
GAME ONE: GEORGE MASON 3, RHODE ISLAND 1 (8 INNINGS)
George Mason and Rhode Island were locked in a pitchers' duel between Carly Cooper (6.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) and Ashley Hibbard (8.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) in which no runs would be recorded until there were two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With runners on first and second, Rhode Island's Elena Gonzalez (2-3, RBI, BB) hit an RBI single up the middle.
The score would remain 1-0 in Rhode Island's favor until the top of the seventh inning, when the Patriots began their rally. George Mason led the inning off with an Elyssa DeRosa (1-2, 3B, BB) triple down the right field line. DeRosa would then be replaced with pinch runner Charlotte Montgomery (1-1, R, RBI). The game would be tied with a Maddy Myers (0-3, RBI) ground out to short, scoring the speedy Montgomery.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cooper retired the first Ram, but Cassie Swenson (3-4, R) got on base with a single up the middle. After a Casey Miller (1-3, SH) fly out to left, Swenson advanced to second on a wild pitch with two outs. Cooper's afternoon would be done after she gave up a two-out walk to Gonzalez.
In to pitch in relief would be Harlowe Nigh (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB), who retired the first batter she faced with a ground out to short.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Patriots loaded the bases with only one out. Up to the plate was graduate student Rachel Warrens (0-3, RBI, SH), who laid down a sacrifice bunt down the first base line to score pinch runner Kamryn Inman (1 R) from third and take the first lead of the game. The next batter was Montgomery, who laced an RBI single to left field which scored Logan Pickford (1-3, R) from third.
The inning would end during Montgomery's single, as Marlaina Bozek (0-3, BB) was caught in between third and home.
In the bottom of the eighth, Skyler Rapuano (1-3, BB) drew a leadoff walk. Sydney Yoder (1-3, BB) then hit a single to left field that would move Rapuano to third, but Yoder would be out at second by a Sydney Bales (0-3) outfield assist.
Relief pitcher Nigh and the Patriot defense would strand the lone Ram at third in the end, as the final two outs were recorded as infield pop outs. Nigh earned her third win of the season.
GAME TWO: GEORGE MASON 4, RHODE ISLAND 5
In Game Two, both teams scored early and often. The Patriots scored two runs in the first inning, one in the third and one more in the sixth, while Rhode Island scored one in the first, followed by back-to-back two run innings in the second and third.
The Patriots took the lead first in the top of the first inning with a Zoe Vozick (1-2, 2 RBI, 2B, BB) two-RBI double to right center. Vozick's two RBI on the game was a season-high for the senior catcher.
Rhode Island got themselves on the board in the bottom of the first with a Kylie Bulinski (2-3, 2 RBI, 2B) RBI double to center field. The Rams would then take the lead in the bottom of the second with a Zoe Rensel (1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR) two-run homer to center.
The Patriots tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the third with Maddy Myers' (1-4, RBI) team-leading 27th RBI of the year. The graduate student first baseman lifted a single to right center, which scored Marlaina Bozek (1-2, 2 R, 2 BB) from second.
The game would not be tied for long, as Rhode Island tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Bulinski plated her second run of the game with an RBI single to center, and Sydney Yoder (0-1, R, RBI, SF) hit an RBI sacrifice fly, scoring Elena Gonzalez (1-2, 2 R, BB) from third.
George Mason took the game to within one run in the top of the sixth. After Vozick drew a leadoff walk and was replaced with pinch runner Kamryn Inman (1 R), Maya McGowan (0-3) reached on base and advanced to second on a Ram fielding error which allowed Inman to cross home plate.
The Patriots had an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning. Rachel Warrens (2-4, R) led the inning off with a single and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sydney Bales (0-3, SH) laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Warrens to third with only one out.
Up next to bat was Myers. During her at-bat, Warrens ran down the third base line on a squeeze attempt; however, Myers missed the bunt attempt, and Ram catcher Bulinksi was able to tag the sliding Warrens at home.
Shortly after, Myers flied out to left field which sealed the Rhode Island Game Two victory.
UP NEXT
George Mason will play their final game of the 2024 season tomorrow, May 5, as they conclude the three game series with Rhode Island at noon.
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