FAIRFAX, Va.- The La Salle softball team split a doubleheader with the George Mason Patriots winning the first game 6-5 before falling in the tail end 3-2.
Sophomore
Suzanne Swanicke had four RBIs, one run scored and three hits in the win for the Explorers.
The Explorers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top half of the first inning in game one. Swanicke brought home sophomore
Michelle Hagarty who had led the inning off with a walk thanks to a one-out single. Senior
Alicia Aughton then brought home sophomore
Christina Bascara on a fielder's choice before freshman
Valerie Pineiro hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Swanicke and make it 3-0.
Mason took the lead in the bottom half of the inning grabbing four runs thanks to three hits. Junior
Mary Cate Scott came on in relief with two outs and the bases packed and was able to limit the damage thanks to enducing a groundout to third base. After one inning the score was 4-3 in favor of the hosts and would stay that way until the seventh inning.
Senior
Linnette Siedler hit a one-out single in the top of the seventh inning with the Explorers down a run to help start a rally. After she advanced to second on a fielder's choice she was brought home as Swanicke singled to right center to notch the game up at 4-4.
Swanicke again provided the clutch batting in the top of the ninth inning as she hit a two-out double to right center to bring home two runs and give La Salle a 6-4 lead. The Patriots grabbed one back in the bottom of the inning but Scott forced back-to-back groundouts to limit the damage and give the Explorers the victory.
Scott threw 8.1 innings allowing only a single run and five hits while striking out four batters.
Siedler and Swanicke had multi-hit games for the Explorers while Bascara scored two runs in the win.
Game two again saw La Salle jump out to an early lead but this time George Mason was able to complete the comeback and hold on for the win.
The Explorers struck first in the top of the second as sophomore
Mackenzie Obert doubled to left center to bring home freshman
Valerie Pineiro who had been hit by a pitch with two outs.
Mason grabbed two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning. The Patriots used three hits and an error to grab the lead.
However, the Explorers wouldn't give up easily. They tied things up at two as junior
Kendra Heyer led off the top of the seventh with a solo homer to right center. La Salle would have two more baserunners reach thanks to walks but they were left stranded.
The hosts would walk away with the win in game two as they used a two out single to score the winning run and take game two 3-2.
Scott was the unlucky loser of game two throwing 2.2 innings allowing the one run while striking out three. Aughton started and went 4.0 innings.
The Explorers had six hits in the second game led by Heyer who had two of her own.
La Salle and George Mason close out the series with the rubber game tomorrow at noon.
