Softball Drops Weekend Series to Madison

By Connect Mason Sports Director Damien Sordelett
Photo by Broadside Photographer Randy Urick

In the previous 11 games, the George Mason Patriots' softball team had been able to score enough runs to back up solid pitching performances.

This past weekend, the offense could not get anything going.

Despite Becky Anderson pitching her third complete game in two days, George Mason (19-29, 6-11 CAA) was not able to put any runs on the board against Meredith Felts and James Madison (27-20, 11-6 CAA) in a 3-0 defeat Sunday at George Mason Field.

"We saw the pitcher [Felts] yesterday, so it was our third, fourth time around with her," said Mason shortstop Kelsey Mack, who went 2-for-4 on the day. "We just couldn't get any runs up today."

Felts (13-8) was not as dominant yesterday, but she was just as effective, limiting the Patriots to seven hits and striking out nine.

Two strikeouts were huge on the day when the Patriots had opportunities to plate some runs. In the third with the bases loaded, Felts got designated player Kristin Dickel to strike out and caught Dickel looking at strike three in the fifth with runners on second and third.

"When the pressure was on, she was able to step up and get us some outs," said James Madison coach Katie Flynn.

The Dukes were able to get some insurance runs in the fifth when Kaitlyn Wernsign singled home two runs that gave Felts some room to work with.

Despite taking the loss, Anderson's (14-15) performance speaks volumes that her record cannot say. The sophomore has an ERA of 1.72 with those 15 losses and broke the 100 strikeout mark on the season.

For all the doubt at the beginning of the season, Mason coach Joe Verbanic knew who to turn to when a game was needed in the win column.

"She's what this program is built around and every good program is built around pitching," said Verbanic. She gives us a chance to win every time she's out there."

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