March 16, 2008

Mason-LIU Box Score
Mason-SHSU Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - In the final day of its 2008 Spring Break trip to Florida, the George Mason softball team battled the Long Island Blackbirds in a 6-3 defeat. Later in the day, Mason met up with the Sam Houston State Bearkats and narrowly fell 3-2 to close out play in the USF Under Armour Showcase at the Eddie Moore Softball Complex. Mason fell to 6-15 on the season, and finished its week in the Sunshine State with a 1-7 record.

In the early game, LIU scored two runs in the first two innings, then added four to its lead in the fourth inning to provide all of the offense it would need. Mason sliced the deficit in half in the top of the fifth inning with three runs. After a bases-loaded walk issued to sophomore Ciera Jones put the Patriots on the board, sophomore Ashli Breau's single scored two runners to set the score at 6-3. However, neither team would score again as the final margin was set.

Mason junior starter Kelsey Mack was tagged with the loss after allowing LIU's first three runs in three innings of work, while LIU's Jenny Giles earned the win after six innings of work. Blaire Porter picked up her first save of the year after recording the final three outs.

Against the Bearkats, early scoring again doomed the Patriots, as SHSU put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first off of sophomore Becky Anderson, who took the loss after allowing three runs (one earned) in six innings pitched. Mason responded in the top of the third with a run of its own, coming on a bases loaded error by the Bearkats which scored Anderson. Sam Houston State answered right back with a run in the bottom half to regain a two-run lead.

In the top of the seventh, with two runners in scoring position, Jones flew out to center field, a ball deep enough to allow junior Meghan Hill to score from third base and set the margin at 3-2. However, a game-ending strikeout allowed the Bearkats to preserve the victory.

Mason returns home to face Towson next weekend in both teams' Colonial Athletic Association opener.