Sports

• One-hit wonder: Mason blanks Maryland Eastern Shore in doubleheader

  Sports April 12, 2010 at 1:11 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor Senior starting pitcher Becky Anderson continued her mastery over Maryland schools. In her latest outing, Anderson had a no-hit bid with two outs in the fifth inning, but was unable to register her second no-hitter of the season. Regardless, the George Mason University softball team went on to sweep the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks on Wednesday at the George Mason Softball Complex by a score of 8-0 in both games. The Patriots snapped a six-game losing streak to improve to 11-16 on the season while the Hawks fell to 1-17. After losing her last two decisions, Anderson was back in the win column, improving to 4-3 on the season. While Anderson was dominant throughout the first game of the doubleheader, the Mason offense was looking to respond after an abysmal showing in its last five games, having been shut out in four of those games. The team entered the day with just one run in the past 33 innings and struggled in the early going as they were blanked in the first two innings on Wednesday. The Patriots ended their misery as they put up four runs in the third inning and never looked […]

   

• The inner lane with Kimmy

  Sports April 12, 2010 at 1:07 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Kimmy Moss, Broadside Correspondent You may know me as the future 800-meter U.S. Olympian in the 2012 London Games, as you may have read in the paper a few weeks ago. While it is quite an accomplishment, considering the fact that I was able to qualify easily, one must ask, “Really? Craigslist?” Before I go any further, though, please, please tell me that you realized the article published two weeks ago about how I’ll be competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics was completely false. Other than lifting the minivan over my head, that is. Obviously, that was fabricated too. Regardless, how cool would that be? Anyway, just to clarify: hopefully you were clued in to the fact that the Olympics article I was featured in was published in the Roadside, a parody of Broadside, as an April Fools’ week treat. And hopefully you enjoyed it. Even though, from a personal standpoint, that article only slapped me in the face with the reality that I have not reached a lifelong dream to participate in the Olympics — thanks a lot, Roadside — it has, on the bright side, provided a nice transition for me to start writing for Broadside. However, […]

   

• Double trouble in the middle infield: Sophomore middle infielders look to build off impressive first year

  Sports April 12, 2010 at 1:05 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor Sophomores Rachael Davies and Tori Dudley may not ride a tandem bicycle, but the two coalesce as a formidable pair of middle infielders for the George Mason University softball team. While Davies and Dudley continue to develop for one of the emerging teams in the Colonial Athletic Association, the two players offer distinct resumes prior to their arrival at Mason. Davies, the shortstop, had a torrid start to the 2010 season, where she batted a then CAA-leading .471 in the first 12 games. Since then, she has cooled off as her batting average dipped to .343, but she remains a key player on the team’s offense, leading the team with a .443 slugging percentage and 59 assists on defense. Davies is one of the local products, hailing from Manassas, Va. after having played four years at Osbourn Park High School. While receiving offers from Monmouth University, East Tennessee State University and James Madison University, Davies felt that Mason was more suitable for her. Davies had excelled at Osbourn Park, being named to the all-district first team and all-region second team three times in her four-year career. Davies batted a career line of .400 during […]

   

• Sports in a minute: Mason Pitching Continues to Dominate

  Sports April 12, 2010 at 1:03 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor Senior starting pitcher Becky Anderson allowed a one-out single in the first inning and was untouchable after that as she recorded back-to-back one-hit performances, leading the George Mason University softball team to a 3-0 win over the Towson Tigers in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Mason battled closely with the Tigers in the second game, but the Tigers mounted a five-run fifth inning to go on to win 9-1, splitting the doubleheader on Saturday. The Patriots moved to 11-17 overall and 2-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association, while the Tigers went to 23-11 on the season and 6-2 in the conference. Sophomore shortstop Rachael Davies launched a two-out solo homerun in the first inning for the Patriots. That was the team’s only hit in the game. After allowing the lone Towson hit in the first inning, Anderson completely shut down the opposing offense. In four games against Maryland schools, Anderson allowed just one earned run on six hits in 24 innings while striking out 22 batters. In the latter game, sophomore starting pitcher Miranda Cranford threw valiantly from the mound, allowing just one run through four innings, but the Tigers were a handful […]

   

• Harlem highflyers

  Sports April 12, 2010 at 1:01 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor During warmups, the Washington Generals head coach had a message to the fans, the Harlem Globetrotters and the George Mason University basketball team. In a Michael Clarke Duncanesque voice, the coach stated that the Generals were going to humiliate the Globetrotters — humiliate them more than Mason’s own basketball team. Currently in their 15th week of the 2010 Magical Memories tour of 216 cities, the Globetrotters made their way to Fairfax as they entertained the crowd at the Patriot Center on Saturday night. In their 84th year of existence, the Globetrotters continue to provide crowd-pleasing entertainment as they have toured around the world over the years and played in over 25,000 games. Several famous Globetrotters of the past ranged from collegiate basketball stars to former professional basketball players, including the great Wilt Chamberlain. With the new wave of incoming players, the Globetrotters have continued to show the athletic and theatrical side of basketball. Prior to the main event, the Globetrotters’ mascot Globie entertained the crowd with a game of musical chairs and a magical act. At zero-hour, basketball returned to the Patriot Center as the players took center court. During warm-ups, each of the […]

   

• Red Flash cooled down: Mason holds on in five sets against Saint Francis

  Sports April 12, 2010 at 12:47 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Fernanda Bartels, Staff Writer The George Mason University men’s volleyball team beat the Saint Francis Red Flash in five sets on Wednesday, ending a five-match losing streak. The win came at a good time, as the Patriots are getting closer to the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) quarterfinals. With the win, Mason improved its record to 3-4 in conference matches. The Patriots are seeded third in the EIVA standings, one win behind the Princeton Tigers. Mason lead early, having no problem taking the first two sets (30-26, 30-18). The Red Flash came back strong in the third set, outhitting the Patriots in .469. Saint Francis wrapped up the third set with a 10-point difference, 30-20. The Red Flash kept up the heat in the fourth set, opening with a 5-2 lead. The Patriots picked up their game with help from junior setter Brandon Joyner and junior outside hitter Dave Reilly. But the Patriots could not stop junior Jordan Varee’s attacks, falling short in the fourth set, 30-25. The Patriots returned for the fifth set determined to win. By serving and attacking aggressively, Mason took the lead 8-6 after two kills by sophomore outside hitter Joe Norton. The Patriots gained […]

   

• Mason tames Terps: Kendrick shines in the win

  Sports April 12, 2010 at 12:45 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Cody Norman, Staff Writer It took freshman pitcher Nick Kendrick just 17 batters and 49 pitches to get through four scoreless innings of work against the Maryland Terrapins in a 3-1 victory for the George Mason University baseball team on Tuesday afternoon. Kendrick was in a groove early and retired 12 of the first 16 batters he faced before being hit in the hand with a ground ball off the bat of centerfielder Matt Marquis. Redshirt junior T.J. O’Grady stepped in and sat the Terrapins down in order during two stellar innings of work before handing the ball back to a freshman, this time Anthony Montefusco, who allowed one run in the final three innings to pick up the save. Head Coach Bill Brown was impressed with the performance out of his freshman starter and praised his effort after the game. “[Kendrick] is getting better every time he steps out on the mound,” said Brown. “He works hard and he certainly gave us an opportunity to win the game today.” Mason scored first in the bottom of the second inning when freshman second baseman Chris Cook plated junior catcher Brett Hendricks on a triple down the right field line. […]

   

• Mason takes on the Terrapins and Monarchs

  Sports April 5, 2010 at 1:26 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Yasin Jama, Staff Writer This week, the George Mason University baseball team hosts a series of key games beginning with one against the Maryland Terrapins on Tuesday at 3 p.m., followed by a three-game weekend series versus the Old Dominion Monarchs. The Patriots have been up and down in 2010. After last season’s appearance in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament and being ranked in the top 25, Mason had to replace some several key players, but that has not prevented the team from going downhill this season. On Wednesday, Mason put a tally in the win column by defeating the UMBC Golden Retrievers, 19-2. Senior shortstop Ryan Soares led Mason with five RBIs on three hits. Mason will need to continue its hot streak on offense if they want to continue their winning ways against the Terrapins and Monarchs. With a mediocre start to the season, Maryland sports an 11-15 record as of last Thursday. Maryland has not been known nationally for their baseball program, and they typically finish around .500, year in and year out. However, the Terrapins earned the victory on Wednesday against the Navy Midshipmen, 5-1. Maryland’s pitching was the difference in the victory. Junior […]

   

• Complete shutdown: Georgetown pitching blanks Mason in doubleheader

  Sports April 5, 2010 at 1:25 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor Senior starting pitcher Jennifer Connell completed the Georgetown Hoyas’ pitching masterpiece, blanking the George Mason University softball team 4-0 in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader at the George Mason Softball Complex. The Hoyas mowed through Mason 12-0 in the first game. With the sweep, the Hoyas improved to 12-16, while Mason lost its third consecutive game to fall to 8-13 on the season. The Hoyas put on a hit clinic in the first game, totaling 12 runs and 15 hits, led by the team’s top four batters in the lineup. Senior second baseman Kelsie Hanson logged in three hits while senior shortstop Samantha Peters, sophomore pitcher Mackensey Carter and freshman catcher Shikara Lowe recorded two hits apiece. Georgetown jumped to a 5-0 lead before Mason could come to the plate. With two runners in scoring position in the first inning, Carter singled to right center to bring in both runners. After tacking on another run to extend the lead to 3-0, sophomore pinch hitter Jillian Webb knocked in two more runs with a single. That was all the Hoyas needed as Carter and junior pitcher Melissa Conners gave up a combined one hit […]

   

• Students go to bat for cricket: Team pushes for full-time club status

  Sports April 5, 2010 at 1:23 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Rashad Mulla, Broadside Correspondent In March, a George Mason University sports team was on the verge of securing a spot in the semifinals of a national tournament. But it is not a team anyone would suspect. Mason’s cricket team came only a point away from advancing past the preliminary round of the 2010 American College Cricket Spring Break Championship held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from March 17-21. Although they won their match against last year’s champion Montgomery (Md.) College, tournament rules awarded a point for eliminating all batsmen from the opposing team. With Montgomery College playing spoiler and switching to a defensive batting style, Mason came up just short. But while they did not win the 16-team tournament, the national spotlight was a significant step forward for the visibility of cricket on campus. “Cricket is in demand on campus,” said team manager Mohammad Kashif, a senior chemistry major. “Although Mason does not have the infrastructure for cricket, we can still make do with what we have.” With limited financial support, Kashif and his fellow cricket enthusiasts have organized multiple high-profiled matches during the past year. Kashif and Paul Bazzano, assistant director for intramurals and recreational sports, set up an […]