AMHERST, Mass. - In its first game of the 2015 Atlantic 10 Championship, the top-seeded University of Dayton softball team fell to fourth-seeded George Mason, 8-5. The Championship is being held at Sortino Field at UMass Softball Complex and hosted by Massachusetts May 6-9.
Dayton (37-13) was led offensively by senior Natalie Mariano who went 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored. Sophomore Gabrielle Snyder also had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
Mason (23-27) got on the board in the second inning with a two-run long ball over the left center fence and the Patriots took the 2-0 lead into the third frame. GMU put up two more in the third after loading up the bases as Katie Kitts singled to right field to collect two RBI and give the Patriots a 4-0 advantage.
With two outs in the bottom of the third and Mariano on third, A-10 Player of the Year senior Tiffany Ricks sent a single out to right field to bring her home. Ricks stole second to move into scoring position but the next Flyer batter was retired and Dayton trailed, 4-1, after three complete.
Freshman Kayla Haberstitch took a base on balls to open the bottom of the fourth and was moved over to second on a ground out. A Flyer pop up accounted for the second out of the frame but freshman Jaclyn Kweder also reached on a walk to put two runners on. Mariano picked up a RBI with her single to center that plated Haberstitch and UD ended the fourth behind by two, 4-2.
After a beautiful 4-3 double play ended Mason's turn in the fifth, Snyder opened the bottom of the frame with a single and Ricks followed with a walk. Freshman Kailee Budicin tallied a sacrifice on her bunt, moving both runners, and Snyder was plated by Haberstitch's ground out. Sophomore Hannah DeSalvo evened the score at four runs a piece after narrowly beating out the throw at first following her single to the shortstop that brought across Ricks.
The Patriots got two runs back in the top of the sixth after loading the bases with one out. A run was walked in for Mason and then a fielder's choice allowed the second run to come across. The Flyers faced a two-run deficit, 6-4, coming up to bat in the sixth.
With Kweder on second and two outs showing for the Flyers in the sixth, Snyder sent a ball to the right-field wall. Kweder scurried home and Dayton was behind Mason, 6-5.
Mason loaded up the bases with only one out in the top of the seventh and the next Patriot batter went down swinging. A single up the middle by Casey Price tacked on two more GMU runs and, after a fly-out catch by Kweder, UD trailed by three, 8-5, which would be the final margin.
Freshman Manda Cash (10-2) was charged with the loss in the circle for Dayton. She pitched 2.2 innings giving up two runs on two hits and walking four while striking out four. Senior Kayla English started the game for UD, working 2.2 innings. She gave up four runs on one hit while walking six and striking out two. Snyder closed out the game, throwing the final 1.2 innings. She gave up two runs on four hits.
Sarah Kleinfelter (5-5) earned the win for George Mason. She worked 3.1 innings and gave up three runs on four hits while walking two and striking out two. The Patriots' starter was Christina Gabriele who tossed 3.2 innings. She gave up two runs on four hits and walked four to two strikeouts.
Dayton will play tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in an elimination game. The Flyers will face the winner of Thursday's final game – La Salle vs. Saint Louis/Fordham winner.
