STONY BROOK, N.Y. – UMBC
softball's freshman right fielder Danielle
O'Neill(Loathian, Md./Southern) went 3-for-4 from the dish in an
America East doubleheader against Stony Brook on Saturday afternoon
at University Field, but it was not enough as the Retrievers
dropped both contests, falling 8-0 in five innings in game one and
8-1 in game two.
UMBC (8-24, 1-4 AEC) has dropped three in a row heading into
tomorrow's series finale at 11 a.m. at University Field. The
Seawolves (16-15, 3-2 AEC) have won four
straight.
Stony Brook broke opened a scoreless affair with a four-run
bottom of the third inning in game one. Olivia Mintun started
things off with a two-out single up the middle and Shayla Giosia
added a hit into left field. Nicole Hagerty walked the bases loaded
and Bria Green connected on the grand slam into left field to put
the Seawolves out in front, 4-0.
SBU extended its lead in the fourth, Gina Bianculli singled down
the left field line and was moved over to second on a sacrifice
bunt from Nicole Schieferstei. Alexandra Pisciotta added a single
up the middle to score Bianculli from second. A one out single from
Mintun, followed by back-to-back walks cued the exit of UMBC
starting pitcher Rachel Ionata (Tampa, Fla./Palm Harbor
University) and giving the Seawolves a 6-0 lead.
Stony Brook added a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the
fifth inning to end the game because of the eight-run rule. Jessica
Zeilman reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on an
infield single from Bianculli. After the Retrievers retired two
straight batters, but Jessica Combs sent an RBI-single into center
field to score pinch runner Brianne Iannetti and Bianculli scored
on the next at bat on a wild pitch to end the contest.
Ionata (1-6) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on six hits
in 3.2 innings, while sophomore Miranda Clark (Tampa,
Fla./H.B. Plant) came in for one inning of relief and surrendered
two unearned runs. Allison Cukrov (6-8) earned the shutout victory
and finished with eight strikeouts.
In game two, it was UMBC that struck first, as O'Neill led
off the top of the second inning with a single down the left field
line. A foul out to left field from sophomore Courtney
Reinfeld (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) advanced
O'Neill to second and an infield single for
freshman Jane Pardo (Malverne, N.Y./Sacred Heart) put
runners on first and second. A double down the right field line
from junior Kayla Martinez (Odenton, Md./Arundel) scored
the Retrievers' first run of the afternoon and gave the black
and gold a 1-0 lead. UMBC had runners on second and third, but were
unable to cash in further in the inning.
Stony Brook evened the score at one in the bottom of the third,
as a single to center field and a wild pitch put Bianculli on
second base. Kellie Reynolds bunted for a single to put runners on
first and third, but sophomore catcher Alex
Zelaski (Columbia, Md./Oakland Mills) was able to get the
Retrievers' first out of the inning by throwing out Reynolds
as she tried to steal second. Starting pitcher Heather
Brown (Pasadena, Md./Northeast) got Pisciotta to pop up to
second base for two outs, but Combs followed with a single into
left field to score Bianculli from third.
UMBC's defense fell apart in the fourth inning and the
Seawolves were there to take advantage. The Retrievers picked up
one of its two errors in the inning on the second at bat of the
frame and was unable to recover as Stony Brook went on to score
seven runs on seven hits, leading to its 8-1 victory.
Brown (5-9) allowed 10 hits and seven earned runs in the loss,
while Clark threw 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. Christine Lucido
(7-1) threw the complete game victory, surrendering one earned
run.
