Greenville, NC – Sophomore shortstop Maddie Daigneau (New River, Ariz./Boulder Creek) had three hits and scored three runs, leading the UMBC softball team (1-4) to a split on the last day of the Pirate Clash Sunday afternoon in Greenville, NC.

Daigneau has started the season on a five-game hitting streak, going 8-for-16, scoring five runs, a double, a triple, and two RBI during the tournament. The Retrievers dropped the first game of the day to Saint Joseph's, 7-2, but were able to defeat host ECU, 6-5, later in the day. 

Game 1:

UMBC started off the day against Saint Joseph's (2-3), getting on the board first after Tori Alexander (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge Senior) reached second on a two-base error, advancing to third on a wild pitch, and then being brought home by a Julia Keffler (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) sacrifice fly. Saint Joseph's would go on to score a run in each of the next three innings, and two in the fifth inning before a sixth inning Toni Santonastasso (Canonsburg, Pa./Pope John XXIII Regional) RBI fielder's choice made the score 5-2. Saint Joseph's would get back two runs in the bottom half of the sixth to make it, 7-2, which would be how the game would end.

Game 2:

ECU (6-4) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after a home run and fielding error allowed two runs to score in the second. UMBC rebounded by scoring three runs in the fourth inning, with Alexander and Daigneau starting the inning off with back to back singles. After Anna Lonchar (Bristow, Va./Patriot) grounded out to the pitcher to move the runners over, and another quick out, Santonastasso would load the bases by getting hit by a pitch.

Carly Lesko (New Milford, N.J./New Milford) would follow that up with a bases clearing double to right center to take the lead back, 3-2. The Pirates would respond with a RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. UMBC would again score two runs in the fifth to go up 5-3, before ECU scored again to bring it back to a one run game.

The Pirates would tie the game up in the sixth inning after a Logan Wood home run. The Retrievers would bury the hatchet after Daigneau scored the final run on a passed ball in the seventh inning, as UMBC would take the game over the host ECU, 6-5

Kim Puccio (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) earned her first win of the season, throwing three innings of relief. She gave up a run, allowing four hits and threw one strikeout.

The Retrievers will be in action again on Friday, February 23 as they travel to Lafayette, Louisiana to participate in the Louisiana Classics. They begin play with a doubleheader against Southeastern Louisiana and Memphis with first pitch at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, respectively.