Binghamton, N.Y. – Five Retrievers tallied a hit in the UMBC softball team's (7-23, 2-4) 7-0 loss in Sunday's rubber match against the Binghamton Bearcats (9-14, 2-1).  Among those with hits were freshmen Julia Keffler (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) and Sierra Pierce (Youngstown, Ohio/Jackson-Milton), and seniors Carly Lesko (New Milford, N.J./New Milford), Tori Alexander (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge Senior), and Toni Santonastasso (Canonsburg, Pa./Pope John XXIII Regional.

Sophomore Valerie Hammett (Mechanicsville, Md./Chopticon) walked three times in four plate appearances.

In the circle, Kim Puccio (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) tossed 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits.  The senior began the game with four shutout innings, before allowing a solo homerun with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning.

UMBC threatened early and often, putting at least one runner on base in each inning.  The Retrievers put two on in the second inning after Lesko and Alexander singled in back-to-back at-bats, but they were unable to push a runner across after a strikeout and fly out.

In the third inning, Keffler singled to center field, and Hammett walked to pressure the Bearcats, but Binghamton pitcher Rayn Gibson induced a double play to escape the jam.  Santonastasso added a single in the fourth, and Hammett walked again in the fifth as the score remained tied throughout.  Binghamton would strike first with a solo homerun in the bottom half of the fifth.

The Retrievers had two reach base with two outs in the sixth with Pierce singling to second base, and Santonastasso being hit by a pitch, but a strike out put an end to the potential rally.   The Bearcats would add six runs in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to three homeruns.

UMBC would get two runners on in the seventh including a third Hammett walk.

The Retrievers will return home for a mid-week double header on Wednesday against America East foe Stony Brook, with game one beginning at 1 PM.