Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. – Colgate finished the opening day of the Cherry Blossom Tournament with another strong team performance as they downed host George Mason, 6-3 on Friday night.
 
The Raiders are now riding a two-game winning streak after taking down Binghamton earlier in the day, 9-1.
 
"I was very pleased with the overall team effort today," Colgate head coach Melissa Finley said. "We did a great job of scoring early and making our pitchers job easier. Both Brigit (Ieuter) and Megan (Carnase) threw great games today and we had the defense to back them up.
 
"The top of our order did a great job producing runs and Marisa (Dowling) had a great day overall for us."
 
Three Colgate players recorded hits in the victory as Marisa Dowling led all players going 3-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, and a walk. Rookie Katie Bushee also had a solid hitting day notching two hits and two runs in her four at bats. Jennifer Martin finished off the Colgate players who registered hits in the game, posting one, while adding two runs and two walks.
 
The Raiders shifted their record to 3-9, while sophomore pitcher Megan Carnase tallied her first season win in the circle. Carnase pitched a complete game allowing 10 hits and three runs.
 
"I'd like to see us keep the pressure on offense throughout the entire game tomorrow and not settle after getting an early lead," Finley said. "With that said, if the team comes to play like they did today then we will be in a good place."
 
George Mason (4-11) received two hits from Tiffany Webb and Casey Price to lead the Patriots, while three pitchers saw action in the game. Sarah Kleinfelter recorded the loss after going 1.1 innings, allowing five hits and five runs. Anna Blessing and Christina Gabriele both came in for relief going 4.2 and 1.0 innings, respectively. Blessing also allowed one hit and one run during her tenure in the circle.
 
Bushee started the game singling through the right side before stealing second to get a runner in scoring position. Then with one-out Dowling singled, scoring Bushee for the early 1-0 edge. On the ensuing play, Martin doubled to left center, advancing Dowling to third. The Patriots recorded one more out before Murray earned a walk to load the bases. Consecutive walks on the next two at bats, gave the Raiders two more runs to take a 3-0 lead after the first inning.
 
In the top of the second, Bushee again singled to get a runner on board. Fleming advanced her to second with a sacrifice bunt before a Dowling single up the middle scored her. During the next at bat, Martin earned a walk to have two runners on base with one out. A Tera Vaughn ground out shifted the runners up one base before Dowling reached home thanks to an error on the catcher on the next play.
 
George Mason started the bottom half of the inning with two runners on and no outs but Carnase eased out of the inning, registering the next three outs, keeping her shutout alive.
 
Again the Patriots were knocking on the door in the top of the fifth when they had bases loaded with one out. But the Raiders did not falter and escaped the inning without conceding a run.
 
The Patriots were, however, able to get on the board in the seventh inning with three runs but could not close the deficit all the way as they eventually fell to the Raiders.
 
Colgate is back in action Saturday against Akron and Binghamton. The first game of the day will be against the Zips at 10:30 a.m. before having a rematch with the Bearcats at 12:45 p.m.