March 11, 2007

Box Score

Fairfax, Va.--After collecting a combined total of 23 runs and 21 hits in two games, Mason's softball team pushed its overall record to 7-6 Sunday afternoon in the final day of the Mason Invitational at George Mason Field. The Patriots first defeated Brown by a score of 5-2 and then claimed an 18-8 victory over Morgan State.

Sophomore Ali Bryan led her teammates in batting average Sunday (.800) as she had a combined 4-of-5 showing at the plate, two RBI and she also scored two runs for the Patriots. Junior Amanda Bach pushed her doubles total of the season to eight after connecting on a total of two during the two match-ups. Bach led her teammates Sunday with five RBI, as well as five hits and also added three runs for Mason.

Against Brown, Bach led things off with a double to centerfield and was brought home after freshman Becky Anderson connected on her second homerun of the season. The Bears tied the game at two in the fifth inning, but Mason responded in the bottom of the same inning. Bryan smacked a double to centerfield and Bach sent her home for the game-winning run after hitting another double. The Patriots helped cushion their lead with two more runs scored in the bottom of the sixth as freshman Julia Pillow, who pinchran for junior Lesley Hassen, and sophomore Paige Miller each scored to help secure Mason's win over the Bears.

Junior Arielle Weinkofsky improved her record to 2-3 on the mound after pitching the first four innings against the Browns and only gave up one earned run off of two hits, while walking two and striking out three of the 16 batters she faced. Anderson was in the circle the remaining innings and gave up only one earned run off of three hits and struck-out one batter. Miche Moses earned the loss for Brown after giving up three earned runs off of five hits in four innings of work.

Against MSU, freshman Meghan Hill scored four runs for the Patriots, while junior Kat Winter collected three runs. Sophomore Sara Martin, Bach, sophomore Dee Murray, junior Emily Miller each scored two, while Bryan, freshman Shaniqua Steele, P. Miller each added to Mason's point total with one run scored by each. Bach tallied a team-high three RBI against the Bears, while Pillow connected on a team-best three hits in the 18-8 win.

Mason sophomore Rachel Hastings evened her record to 1-1 on the mound versus MSU as she gave up five earned runs off of seven hits, while Paige Krystofinski gave up three earned runs off of five hits in three innings of work.

The Patriots will return to action when they face Indiana in the South Florida Tournament on March 13 at 9:30 a.m.