March 12, 2008

Mason-Indiana Box Score
Mason-Ball State Box Score

TAMPA - Sophomore Becky Anderson pitched a four-hit, complete game shutout and helped her own cause by blasting a grand slam in the fourth inning to lead the George Mason softball team past Big Ten foe Indiana, 7-0. Later in the day, Mason fell to Ball State, 2-0, to close out play at the USF Spring Break Tournament in Tampa.

Anderson improved to 4-2 on the year by holding the Hoosiers scoreless, scattering just four hits and allowing just one runner to reach second base. The outing was helped by a stellar defensive performance by the Patriots, as Mason recorded all 21 Hoosier outs without a single strikeout.

Offensively, Anderson's four-run slam capped off a six-run fourth inning for the Patriots. The scoring spree was started by an RBI bases-loaded walk for junior Jill Chen, the fourth straight free pass issued by IU starter Alyssa Maiese (0-5), who was lifted on the next batter. However, the charity scoring continued for the Patriots, as senior Katlyn Winter took first on four balls, allowing senior Kristin Dickel to score from third. Anderson was the next batter, and she sent a Jennifer Moore pitch over the left-field wall to clear the bases and give Mason a 6-0 advantage.

The Patriots tacked on one more run in the sixth inning, when junior Kelsey Mack lined a double down the left field line, allowing classmate Alison Bryan to score from second base.

Chen accounted for two of the Patriots' five hits, while Mack, Dickel and Anderson rounded out Mason's total. IU did not see any players record multiple hits, as four Hoosiers each recorded a single.

In the afternoon game, Mason dropped a 2-0 decision to Ball State after the Cardinals combined for a two-hit shutout of their own. The Mason hits came off the bats of sophomore Shaniqua Steele, who bunted for a single in the third inning, and Dickel, who knocked a base hit to left field.

Ball State scored its two runs on a pair of RBI singles by Alicia Barkley in the bottom of the third and in the fifth inning. Both came off pitches by Mack, who pitched six innings and took the loss. BSU starter Laura Masch earned the win while Elizabeth Milian pitched two-thirds of an inning to pick up the save.

Mason will enjoy a day off on Thursday before making the short trip to Clearwater to participate in the USF Under Armour Showcase. The Patriots will square off against Georgia Southern, Ball State, Long Island, and Sam Houston State over the course of the three-day tournament.