BALTIMORE – Sophomore Courtney
Reinfeld (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) batted .600
(3-for-5) on Sunday at the UMBC Softball Stadium, but the
Retrievers dropped two contests in the final day of the UMBC Spring
Classic. UMBC softball concluded Saturday's game against
Princeton – that was called due to darkness – and fell,
11-3, to the Tigers. The black and gold also dropped a 14-0 contest
to Hampton.
Hampton got on the board in the first half of the first inning,
taking advantage of an error on the Retrievers' to get the
lead-off batter Margaret Wilkins on. A wild pitch moved Wilkins
into scoring position and a single from catcher Shine Huwe drove
her in for the 1-0 advantage.
UMBC (6-18) threatened in the bottom half of the inning, as
Pirates' starting pitcher Jailynn Jackson walked the
Retrievers' first two batters. Freshman center
fielder Bridget O'Malley (Brooklyn, Md./Seton Keough)
stole third, putting runners on first and third for Reinfeld.
However, a double steal attempt was unsuccessful and the
Retrievers' chance to tie the contest in the first was
diminished.
The Retrievers put two on with one out in the bottom of the
second, but Hampton starter Jailynn Jackson fanned the next two
batters to end the inning.
Hampton extended its lead to 2-0 with a lead-off homer from
Wilkins in the top of the third and first baseman Taylor McCoy
added a blast of her own one batter later to make it a three-run
game. The Pirates would add one more run in the inning as Huwe, who
was hit by a pitch to reach base, scored on back-to-back Hampton
singles.
The Pirates added another run in the top of the fourth on an
inside the park home run in right center field, O'Malley
looked to knock the ball down on the play, but was unable to get to
the ball in time to save the run, giving Hampton the 5-0 lead.
Hampton (13-18) added further insurance in the top of the
seventh inning, with nine runs, eight coming with two outs.
Jackson tossed the complete game shutout, allowing three hits
and striking out eight. UMBC junior Caitlin
Chance (Easton, Md./Easton) accounted for two of the
Retrievers' three hits in the contest.
Earlier in the day, play resumed in the Retrievers' game
against Princeton in the top of the fourth inning with the score
tied at one.
UMBC scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth inning,
as a single into right field from Reinfeld scored
freshman Danielle O'Neill (Loathian, Md./Southern) from
second – with O'Neill being safe on an obstruction call
at the plate.
The Retrievers were not able to hang on to the lead for long
though, with the Tigers scoring four runs on five hits in the top
of the fifth. Princeton loaded the bases with no outs, following a
double, single and walk. While UMBC was able to get one out at the
plate, a two-run single through the left side of the infield from
Tory Roberts scored two runs and another single from Cara Worden
scored another pair.
The Tigers would add six more runs in the top of the seventh to
seal the victory.
Brown allowed five earned runs before departing in the seventh
inning, while Princeton's starter Meredith Brown threw six
innings, allowing two runs on six hits, with six strikeouts.
With two outs in the top of the first inning on Saturday,
Princeton strung together three-straight hits to score right
fielder Candy Button and take a quick 1-0 lead. Starting
pitcher Heather Brown (Pasadena, Md./Northeast) walked
the next batter to load the bases, but was able to get center
fielder Lizzy Pierce to ground out to second to end the inning.
Brown allowed the first two batters of the top of the second to
reach base, and allowed a two-out walk to load the bases again, but
the senior escaped the jam with her first strikeout of the
contest.
The Retrievers knotted up the contest at one apiece in the
bottom half of the inning, as O'Neill sent a double into left
center field and sophomore third baseman Reinfeld came through with
a two-out single up the left field line to score O'Neill.
Play was suspended following the third inning, with the score
still 1-1, due to darkness.
The Retrievers return to action on Wednesday, March 20 when they
play host to George Mason. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. at the
UMBC Softball Stadium.
