Baltimore, Md.—For the first time since March 16th, the UMBC Softball team will leave the friendly confines of UMBC Softball Stadium when it travels across the Bay Bridge for a doubleheader on Thursday at UMES. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was pushed back a day due to weather. Game times are set for 2:30 and 4:30.
UMBC (16-23, 1-7) is mired in a seven game losing streak, and will look to take the season series from the Lady Hawks after splitting a pair in Princess Anne back in February.
Senior shortstop Bridget O'Malley (Baltimore, Md/Seton Keough) continues to pace the Retriever offense, leading the team in average (.417), on-base percentage (.496), hits (45) and walks (19). Junior Jessica Holte (Ashland, Va./Atlee) anchors the UMBC rotation with a team-high 107 innings pitched to go with a team-low 4.19 ERA and an 8-10 record.
Scouting the Lady Hawks (8-19, 2-5 MEAC)
UMES will enter play on Thursday with an eight-day break, having not played since splitting a doubleheader at George Mason on April 6. Vanessa Gomez leads the Lady Hawk offense in every single offensive category except home runs (three players are tied with one). The senior has 15 RBI on 32 hits, including eight doubles and six triples, to go with a .372 average and a .605 slugging percentage. Gomez has also scored 23 runs, tallied 52 total bases and has stolen nine bases. Adrienne Guerra is the top pitcher for UMES, posting a 6-11 record and a team-best 4.46 ERA.
