BALTIMORE, Md. – The UMBC softball
team lost both of its games on the final day of the UMBC Dawg Pound
Invitational, Sunday afternoon at the UMBC Softball
Stadium. In the first game, Niagara came back with two
runs in the top of the sixth to down the Retrievers,
3-2. Seton Hall then scored three runs in the top of the
fifth to defeat UMBC, 5-2. Following the weekend
tournament, UMBC is now 7-10.
In game one, Niagara took the advantage by scoring one run in
the top of the fourth inning. UMBC answered right back
to take the lead on a two RBI double by freshman Taylor
Hall (Cosby, Va./Cosby) to take the lead by one, 2-1, in
the bottom of the fourth.
In the sixth inning, the visitors sandwiched two singles around
a double to score two runs and take the lead back, 3-2.
With two down in the bottom half of the inning, freshman Kaila
Balatgek(Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) singled, putting runners
on first and second. The Retrievers could not bring them
around however, and could not rally in the seventh either.
Junior Heather
Brown (Pasadena, Md./Northeast) took the loss for UMBC,
giving up three runs on seven hits in seven innings of
work. Meanwhile, Bri Allen (2-2) picked up the win for
the Purple Eagles after coming in to pitch three scoreless innings
in relief.
In game two, the Retrievers took the initiative against the
Pirates, plating a run in the bottom of the first. With one
down, sophomore Jessica
Warner (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) doubled down the
leftfield line and then advanced to third on a single to center by
Chance. Warner came into score on a wild pitch to give
UMBC the lead.
Seton Hall rallied to tie the game in the top of the fourth on a
leadoff homerun by Kristen Kaelin.
The next inning, the Pirates capitalized on a UMBC error to
score three unearned runs against starter Katie
Ferguson (North East, Md./North East/Cecil
CC). Ferguson (4-5) was charged with the loss after
giving up five runs, two of them earned, on six hits over seven
innings.
Casey Moses (1-1) picked up the win for Seton Hall after
throwing six innings in relief, yielding only one run on three
hits.
UMBC plated a run in the bottom of the fourth to pull within
two, 4-2, on a homerun by Warner.
Seton Hall answered with another run in the fifth to provide the
final margin, 5-2.
The Retrievers have the midweek off from games before hosting
the UMBC Spring Classic next weekend. On Thursday, day
one of the four-day tournament, UMBC will take on Siena and St.
Francis. The Retrievers will then play one game each
against Sacred Heart, Rhode Island and Brown on Friday, Saturday
and Sunday, respectively.
