FARMVILLE, VA. – The UMBC softball
team (0-2) dropped both games of a season-opening doubleheader to
Longwood at the Lancer Lead-Off Tournament at Lancer
Field. The Retrievers were edged out, 9-8, in the second
game after falling, 9-0, in a shortened five inning game.
Freshman Taylor
Hall (Cosby, Va./Cosby) picked up two hits, including her
first career homerun, in just her second collegiate game, while
also scoring two runs and driving one in as well.
Senior Angela
Yannone (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) and sophomoreJessica
Warner (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) also picked up two
hits each for the Retrievers in game two.
In the second game, UMBC took the initiative, scoring two runs
in the top of the first on back-to-back homeruns by
freshman Kaila
Balatgek (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) and senior Katie
Ferguson (North East, Md./North East/Cecil
CC). The Retrievers added to their lead in the third on
solo shot from Hall.
Longwood fought back in the bottom half with three runs of its
own to knot the game at three.
The Retrievers stole the lead right back in the top of the fifth
when Yannone doubled to center, bringing in Warner and Hall.
The lead was short lived again, however, as the Lancers scored
six in the bottom half of inning.
UMBC scored twice in the sixth and once in the seventh, but
could not tie it up, leaving freshman Courtney
Reinfeld (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) on second in the
final frame.
In the matinee, Longwood quickly got on UMBC starter Heather
Brown, with the first seven Lancer batters reaching
base.
The hosts scored six runs in the top of the first and added
three more in the third, to provide the final margin, 9-0.
The Retrievers take the field for day two of the Lancer Leadoff
Tournament tomorrow when they take on Seton Hall and St.
John's. First pitch between the Pirates and Retrievers
is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
