BALTIMORE, Md. – Freshman Courtney
Paone (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) drove a fly ball
to right field that was misplayed by the outfielder,
allowing Katrina
Gaar (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar/Orange Coast
CC) to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh as
the UMBC softball team (12-14, 1-2 America East) rallied to defeat
Albany (13-7, 2-1 America East), 4-3, Monday afternoon at the UMBC
Softball Stadium.
Trailing, 3-2, heading to the bottom half of the seventh, the
first three Retrievers reached base, tying the game on a single to
right-centerfield by sophomore Jessica
Warner (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown). Two
batters later, Paone hit a fly ball allowing Gaar to score the
winner.
Senior Katie
Ferguson (North East, Md./North East/Cecil CC) earned the
win, pitching a complete game while allowing only two earned runs
on five hits. The right-hander also went 2-for-3 at the
plate with an RBI single in the first inning.
Albany's Brittany MacFawn also
pitched a complete game, but was charged with the loss after
yielding four runs on seven hits. She did recorded seven
strikeouts on Monday.
The day did not look promising for Ferguson as Albany's leadoff
batter, Vicky McFarland, singled and then
stole second and third. She came home on an RBI
groundout by the batter. After a hit batter and a
single, Ferguson forced Lauren Alcorn into an inning ending double
play.
The Retrievers got the run right back though and took the lead
as Ferguson helped her own cause with an RBI single to
left. With runners on second and third, the pitcher
lined a base hit to left driving in Warner while Paone was able to
score on a fielding error by the left fielder.
Albany tied the score almost immediately, plating an unearned
run in the top of the second inning.
Each team got plenty of runners on base as the squads combined
for 12 hits and 10 walks, but could not make the decisive blow
against either pitcher.
The visitors made a bid for the win in the top of the sixth,
scoring on a wild pitch to take a one-run lead, 3-2. Ferguson
regrouped however, and forced a pop up to end the inning and strand
a runner on third.
Neither team could muster a rally in the bottom of the sixth or
top of the seventh, respectively, setting up the pivotal bottom
half of the inning.
Pinch hitting, freshman Kayla
Margentino (Unionville, Conn./Farmington) led off the
inning with a walk and then was promptly replaced by pinch
runner Amanda
Damiano (Tamaqua, Pa./Marian Catholic). Gaar
and Warner then hit consecutive singles to tie the score and setup
then game-ending flyball.
UMBC continues its busy stretch by returning to the field to
host George Washington tomorrow. First pitch between the
Retrievers and Colonials is set for 2 p.m. at the UMBC Softball
Stadium.
