FAIRFAX, Virginia - The George Mason softball team sweeps Coppin State in a midweek doubleheader. The Patriots improve its record to 17-16 on the season, while Coppin State falls to 9-19. This win marks the ninth win for Mason in its last 12 games.
Game 1:
Mason put on another amazing hitting display in both games against the Eagles. It all started in the third inning with a bizarre Coppin State defensive play. Kimberlynn Brown made a throwing error to first base, allowing Tiffany Webb to round all the bases and actually score on the play. Later in the inning, Casey Price reached first base and then Angela Maioran blasted her first home run of the season to give Mason a 5-0 lead.
The Patriots weren't done there, in the bottom of the fourth inning; Webb singled and picked up an RBI on the play. After the Webb single, Brooke Blankenship crushed her fifth home run of the season to bring in two more RBI. The Patriots went on to score five more runs in the fourth inning to bring the lead to 13-0.
Anna Blessing finished off the Eagles in the fifth inning to cap off an impressive pitching performance. Blessing gave up just three hits in a complete game shutout.
Blankenship and Mary O'Connor each had two hits in the game. Maioran led the Patriot offense, going three for three with a two-run homerun.
Alyssa Barker got the start for the Eagles and pitched all four innings. Barker gave up six earned runs on 12 hits in the game. Meanwhile, Candice Van Horn, Alanna Williams, and Samantha Denlinger each picked up a hit for Coppin State.
Game 2:
The Patriots continued its dominance in the second game of the doubleheader. In the first inning, Brooke Blankenship walked, before a Casey Price single gave Mason the 1-0 lead. Right after the Price single, Angela Maioran continued her hot hitting from game one with a double though the left side to pick up another RBI.
The Patriots momentum kept going in the second inning when Tiffany Webb was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Blankenship followed that up with a sacrifice fly to score another runner. Price and Maioran then continued their offensive display with another single and RBI each. All in All, the Green and Gold led 7-0 going into the third inning.
The runs kept coming in the third inning for Mason. Webb tripled to center field to bring in two RBI for the Patriots. Later in the inning, after a Price triple to right center, Sarah Solano hit a booming double to left center to pick up an RBI. After the third inning, the Patriots led comfortably, 12-1.
Christina Gabriele got the start and the win for the Patriots and pitched an impressive 4.1 innings. Gabriele gave up just one earned run on five hits. Casey Herring closed out the game in the fifth inning for Mason, giving up zero hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Webb had a game-high three RBI and added two runs for the Patriots. Meanwhile, Price and Maioran went a combined 5-5 in game two with two RBI each.
Candice Van Horn picked up the start and the loss for the Eagles after pitching 1.2 innings and giving up seven earned runs. Samantha Denlinger and Alyssa Barker also pitched for Coppin State. Meanwhile, Alyssa Barker also led the Eagles on offense with three hits in game two.
Up Next: The Patriots host A-10 opponent Rhode Island on Friday, April 18. This will also be the Game of the Week for George Mason. First game is set to start at 3:00 p.m. at George Mason Softball Complex.