Prince William Reporter

Patriots Sweep Day One, With Both Games Against Binghamton by One Run

The George Mason softball team (11-5) swept today's games against Binghamton. The Patriots walked-off the Bearcats in Game One by the score of 3-2, while in Game 2, the Patriots climbed back from an early 0-3 deficit and scored four unanswered runs to win 4-3.

MASON BY THE NUMBERS

• Nicole Bechtel led the team in runs batted in with two. She drove in her two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game One to tie the game.
• Four Patriots hit .500 or better: Hayley Shifflett (1-for-1, 1.000), Marlaina Bozek (4-for-6, .667), Alena Ball & Maddy Myers (2-for-4, .500)
• Pitcher Aly Rayle pitched a game in her Game One win. She pitched seven innings, struck out six batters, and allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits.
• Pitcher Jordan Anderson pitched 5.2 innings in relief and earned the win in Game Two. She struck out four batters and allowed zero earned runs in.

GAME ONE: MASON (10-5) vs. BINGHAMTON (9-6)

In Game One, Binghamton jumped to an early lead. The Bearcats scored one run after the Patriots suffered back-to-back infield errors. The score would remain 1-0 until the top of the fourth inning, when Binghamton added another run to their lead. After senior Alex Musial drew a walk, freshman Kaylin Curro came in to be a pinch runner. Junior Hailey Ehlers hit a double to center, which brought in Curro all the way from first.

The Bearcats carried a 2-0 lead over the Patriots throughout the majority of the game. Binghamton's starting freshman pitcher Brianna Roberts had held the Patriots to just two hits on the game going into the seventh inning.

Mason's late-game rally started with a Marlaina Bozek single to center field, followed by a Haley Taormina double. With runners on second and third with no one out, Binghamton switched out the starter Roberts for reliever Lindsey Walter. The following at-bat, catcher Nicole Bechtel ripped a double, easily scoring Marlaina Bozek. Haley Taormina slid in to score as well, beating the defensive relay. Since the Bearcat defense tried to get Taormina at home, it gave Bechtel the chance to advance to third on the play. Freshman Kamryn Inman came in as a pinch runner to replace Nicole Bechtel on third. Next to bat was Elyssa DeRosa, whose single to left center ended the game after Inman crossed home plate.

This game marked Mason's third walk-off victory on the season and the second career walk-off hit by Elyssa DeRosa. Her first walk-off came last weekend against Saint Francis on a walk-off Run Rule Victory.

Pitcher Aly Rayle earned the win in Game One. She pitched seven innings, struck out six batters, and allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits.

GAME TWO: MASON (11-5) vs. BINGHAMTON (9-7)

Similar to Game One, Binghamton took an early lead against the Patriots. This time, all of their runs scored happened in one inning and by one swing. In the top of the second inning, with the bases loaded, Hailey Ehlers hit a bases-clearing double to left center. With the score 0-3 Bearcats, the Patriots went to the pen. Sophomore Jordan Anderson took over in the second inning. She would pitch the rest of the game, going 5.2 innings, striking out four batters and allowing zero runs on four hits. 

The Patriots brought themselves back into the game, scoring three runs of thier own in the fourth inning. Senior Rachel Warrens started the rally with a double to right center, followed by a Logan Pickford walk. Sydney Blackwell drew a walk the following at-bat, loading the bases with no one out. Maddy Myers was next to bat, where she snuck a single through the left side, scoring Warrens. After Marlaina Bozek was caught looking for her third strike, Alena Ball kept the line moving with a single to the left side. Everyone advanced one base, scoring Pickford. Up next to bat now was Haley Taormina. She eventually drew a walk as well, which brought in Blackwell and tied the game.

The Patriots would take the lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning. After Marlaina Bozek led off the inning with a single to center field, the Bearcats recorded two quick fly outs. Up next to bat for the Patriots was Hayley Shifflett, who came in to pinch hit for Nicole Bechtel. In her first at-bat of the day, the sophomore from Scottsville, Va., ripeed a double to left center, scoring Bozek all the way from first. Shifflett would be tagged out at third, ending the inning.

With the Patriots leading going into the top of the seventh inning, the Bearcats threatened to tie the game. Sophomore Alayna Harbaugh led the inning off with a single and would later steal second. Jordan Anderson locked the rest of the inning down however, flying out the next three batters and ending the game.

UP NEXT

The Patriots and Bearcats face off against each other again tomorrow in another doubleheader. Due to the inclement weather coming tomorrow afternoon, softball's doubleheader will be moved up two hours. First pitch is now set for 10 A.M. EDT.

Original source can be found here