FAIRFAX, Va. – Cornell softball went 1-1 on day two of the George Mason Invitational on Saturday, March 7, defeating Hofstra in the early afternoon portion, 6-3, before falling to the host school George Mason, 9-1, in the evening. Stats from the weekend may not be completely accurate and appropriate changes will be made accordingly.
 
With a split on Saturday, Cornell's overall season record moves to 4-4 overall. Hofstra drops to 3-13 following a loss to the Big Red, while George Mason improves to 5-11.
 
Game One
Cornell mounted a large lead early in its first game of the day, leading 6-1 through three innings and hanging on to defeat the Pride, 6-3.
 
Freshman Gabrielle Maday started in the circle, earning the win after allowing just one earned run over five innings pitched. Maday was relieved by freshman Mia Burd, who pitched the final two innings of the game where she struck out two Pride batters.
 
Senior Bridgette Rooney provided the pop, extending Cornell's lead to 5-0 with a three-run home run in the third inning that scored freshmen Maicie Levitt and Celia Macari. Rooney leads the team with a .538 batting average and has hit a pair of long balls this season.
 
Sophomore Emily McKinney started the scoring for the Big Red in the first inning, singling down the left field line to score Rooney. Macari also had a hand in the big offensive showing from Cornell as her double down the right field line in the second inning scored freshman Julie Hilcken.
 
After Hofstra scored one in the third, Cornell responded by scoring sophomore Hanna Cist on a Brianna Straley fielder's choice. Hofstra slowly chipped away at Cornell's lead in the fourth and fifth innings, but it wasn't enough to make a comeback against the Big Red.
 
Game Two
George Mason's bats got hot in the first inning to the tune of five runs and the Patriots cruised to a 9-1 win over the Big Red in six innings.
 
Katie Lew (0-2) started the game for Cornell, pitching 3.0 innings allowing five hits and four earned runs, striking out three batters. Lew was relived by Ashley Delany who pitched two innings without an earned run before George Mason tacked on two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Delany finished with five hits and two earned runs allowed over 2.2 innings in the circle.
 
Providing the offense for Cornell in game two was freshman Celia Macari, who hit a two-out solo home run in the third inning. Sophomore Emily McKinney also had a hit for the Big Red.
 
Up Next: Cornell has one game remaining at the George Mason Invitational, taking on Canisius on Sunday, March 8 at 10 a.m. Canisius is 7-9 this season and has won two of its three games in Fairfax with wins over Hofstra and Buffalo.