George Washington University Athletics
Softball Renews Revolutionary Rivalry with George Mason
4/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Marta FuentesJr. || 5-5 || IF
Orlando, FL
Fuentes has consistently stoked the offense from the lead-off spot in her first season in Buff and Blue. The Florida native ranks third on the club hitting .362 (42-for-116) with a team-high 37 runs scored and 20 RBIs. She's stolen 27 bases in 31 attempts to lead the A-10 and her 0.79 steals per game ranks 13th nationally. She finished last weekend's series against La Salle hitting .500 (6-for-12) with four runs batted in, four runs scored and three steals.
The Colonials (26-14, 6-6 A-10) have won back-to-back conference series, heading into the midweek showdown at George Mason Softball Complex in nearby Fairfax, Va.
LAST TIME OUT: GW took two of three last weekend from La Salle at its home field on the Mount Vernon Campus.
Sierra Lange clubbed a go-ahead, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth in the series opener to help the Colonials secure a 12-10 victory. It was her second of the game and gave her a career-high five RBIs.
The Buff and Blue finished the doubleheader with a 4-3 victory in nine innings. Morgan Rinehart doubled home a run in the seventh and later scored the tying run to extend the game before Marta Fuentes won it two innings later with a bases-loaded single.
Lange had a productive all-around weekend against the Explorers, compiling a .500/.545/1.100 slash line with five runs scored and five RBIs and picking up a pair of wins in the circle with 15 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings.
HEAVY HITTERS: George Washington leads the Atlantic 10 and ranks No. 11 nationally at 6.43 runs per game. With 257 runs through 40 games, the Colonials only need four runs to break the program's single-season record set in 2017.
In addition, GW's .328 team batting average checks in at No. 8 nationally. The Colonials are also on pace to smash that program record set last spring in head coach James DeFeo's inaugural season (.302).
CONSISTENT CONTACT: Jenna Cone has only struck out four times in 113 at-bats, a rate (1 out of every 28.3 ABs) that ranks No. 22 nationally. The sophomore from California has gone down on strikes just once in 38 at-bats in A-10 play. She's also only struck out once during her career-best 24-game on-base streak that dates back to March 9.
Alessandra Ponce also has a spot on the national list. The freshman from Nevada has struck out five times in the first 81 at-bats of her career (1 out of every 16.2 at-bats) to rank 140th in the country and sixth in the A-10.
SCOUTING GEORGE MASON: The Patriots (15-23, 5-7) have won four straight games, including a weekend A-10 sweep at St. Bonaventure.
Brooke Sullivan (.318, 24 R) and Jess Curbeira (.314, 14 extra-base hits) are George Mason's top hitters, while Bekah Ansbro (6-8, 3.45 ERA) and Haellie Gordon (7-9, 3.90 ERA) have led the way in the circle.
GW swept a doubleheader from the Patriots last season in the District with Kaitlin Buff picking up both wins in relief. The left-hander allowed one run in 11 total innings on the day.
ON DECK: GW is scheduled to play its next seven games on the road. This weekend, the Colonials head to Dayton for a three-game set that begins with a Saturday doubleheader.
