BALTIMORE, Md. – UMBC softball senior Katie Ferguson (North East, Md./North East/Cecil CC) threw a complete game to pick up her first win of the year as the Retrievers (3-6) defeated Princeton, 7-2, on the first day of the UMBC Retriever Classic at the UMBC Softball Stadium.

Ferguson (1-4) yielded only two earned runs on eight hits, while striking out five Tigers.

Princeton's Alex Peyton (0-1) took the loss after giving up seven runs, six of them earned, in five innings of work.

A balanced attack led UMBC as eight different Retrievers picked up at least one hit.

The hosts took the initiative in the game, plating a run in the bottom of the first when senior Angela Yannone (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) was hit by a pitch and sophomore Caitlin Chance (Easton, Md./Easton) was forced home.

The Retrievers put a stranglehold on the game two innings later, hanging a four-spot on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning.  Freshman Courtney Reinfeld (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) singled home senior Jessica Warner to start the scoring.  Two batters later, senior Ashley Carver (Swoyersville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) doubled, bringing freshmen Mary Hartman (Eldersburg, Md./Century), Taylor Hall (Cosby, Va./Cosby) and Reinfeld around to score.

Princeton got on the board in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two runs to cut the Retrievers lead to three, 5-2.

The Retrievers pushed right back however, plating two of their own in the bottom half of the frame. Freshman Kaila Balatgek (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) hits her second career homerun, this one a two-run shot to push UMBC's lead back to five, 7-2.

Ferguson shut Princeton down for the next two innings to preserve the win.

In their second game of the day, UMBC leads Canisius, 5-0, in the third inning.  The game has been suspended due to heavy rain in the Baltimore area.  The Retrievers and Golden Griffins will pick up action on Saturday with play beginning at 12 p.m.