Fairfax, Va. ? Junior Michelle Connors went 3-for-4 and classmate Kat Smith drove in three runs in leading the UAlbany softball team to a decisive 10-2 road victory over George Mason on Sunday, March 15. Trailing by two through four innings, The Great Danes recorded their fifth win in the last six games by plating five runs in the fifth and another five in the final two frames.

            Batting with the bases loaded and a five-run lead, freshman Katie Wambold broke the game open in the top of the seventh with a two-RBI single to center field. She scored the 10th run for the Great Danes on the next play when Kat Smith doubled down the right field line. Junior pitcher Leah McIntosh then retired the next three batters to close out the game and stay undefeated this spring.

            After hurling four shutout innings, freshman Miranda Cranford helped herself out by drilling a two-run homer to right center which gave George Mason (11-11) a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning. Becky Anderson continued the stanza by singling to second base before McIntosh was able to retire the next two batters to end the frame.

            UAlbany responded by batting around in the top half of the fifth to push across five runs. After Jess Bergin led off with a single, Kayla Cilley drew a walk to put two on with no outs. Kat Smith grounded out to first on the next play, but Bergin was able to score while pinch runner Stephanie Talerico made it safely to third. Kothe then drew a walk before stealing second. Andrianna Walraven also earned a free pass to load the bases, which set the stage for Kristine Bill.

The sophomore came through for the Great Danes with a two-RBI single to right, plating Talerico and Kothe. Bill advanced to second on the throw home, and Walraven stopped at third. Michelle Connors continued the rally by singling to center to score Walraven, and advanced to second. Bill closed out the scoring in the inning when she came home on the next play while Meagan Butsch was caught in a rundown, giving the squad all the insurance it would need to hold on for the eight-run victory.

UAlbany's McIntosh was credited with the victory to improve to 9-0 this season. She struck out 15 while allowing five hits, two runs which were earned and issuing just one walk. After George Mason's Cranford pitched four scoreless innings, Anderson was tabbed with the defeat for surrendering 10 runs as well as eight hits and five walks. The Patriots' pitchers combined to strike out four.

UAlbany (11-7), which had its tournament at Winthrop rained out over the weekend, will return to action for its home opener against crosstown-rival Siena on Wednesday, March 25. The doubleheader is slated to begin at 3 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany (11-7)               000       051       4          -           10         10         0

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
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Albany.............. 000 051 4 - 10 10  0
George Mason........ 000 200 0 -  2  5  2
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