Video Highlights: Game 1 | Game 2

Baltimore, Md. -- Sierra Pierce (Youngstown, Ohio) went a combined 4-for-5 with a three-run homer and four runs scored, while sophomore Madie Leach (Erie, Colo.) pitched five shutout innings as the UMBC Softball team swept visiting Maine, 11-0 (5) and 4-0, on Saturday.

After Courtney Coppersmith (York, Pa.) worked out of a bases loaded, one-out jam in the top of the second in game one, UMBC (19-10, 8-4 AE) exploded for five runs in the bottom half of the inning. 

Pierce hit a leadoff single and moved to second when Casey Turner (Baltimore, Md.) was hit by a pitch. Meghan Dempsey (Collegeville, Md.) then ripped a single down the third base line to score Pierce and put the Retrievers up 1-0. Anna Lonchar (Bristow, Va.) then followed with a two run double to increase the lead to 3-0. Freshman Ashley Della Guardia (Phoenixville, Pa.) would eventually smack a two-out two-two run double to make it 5-0.

In the third, Maine (11-18, 7-7 AE) got the leadoff batter to second after a hit and an error, but Julia Keffler (Huntingtown, Md.) made a pair of outstanding defensive plays to keep the Black Bears off the board. First, Maine sent the leadoff runner from second home on a single, but Keffler made a perfect throw to get the out at the plate. Keffler then made a sensational running grab in the right centerfield gap to end the inning and strand a runner. 

UMBC added to its lead in the third when Pierce walked to leadoff the inning and Turner was again hit by a pitch. They both moved up on a wild pitch and scored on an error that made it 7-0. Coppersmith hit an RBI single to right to push the lead to 8-0, and two batters later, Keffler would drive in a run with a single of her own. 

In the fourth, Lonchar walked with the bases loaded to force in the tenth run, and Julia Colton (Elkridge, Md.) had an RBI groundout to make it 11-0. The Retrievers finished the game in style when Maddie Daigneau (New River, Ariz.) started a 4-6-3 double play to end it in the top of the fifth.

Gillian McCarthy (Northfield, N.J.) pitched the finals two innings, and did not allow a hit. Coppersmith improved to 13-2 after pitching the first three innings, striking out six and walking two

Pierce went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and a walk, Lonchar went 2-for-2 with three RBI, while Coppersmith also went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Daigneau went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases. Keffler also had a hit, an RBI and a stolen base, while Della Guardia and Dempsey each had a hit and a pair of RBI.

Game two started out much tighter as Leach matched Maine ace Kyleigh O'Donnell with three scoreless frames to start the game. Maine got the first two runners on in the fourth after a walk and a single, but Leach got a pop up and Madison Wilson (Abingdon, Md.) then turned a 5-3 double play to end the threat.

The Retrievers broke the deadlock in the bottom half of the fourth when Della Guardia hit a leadoff single and moved to third on a Wilson double. Pierce then blasted a three-run homer over the fence in left center to put UMBC up 3-0. 

The Black Bears got the first runner on in the top of the fifth after an error, but Daigneau turned a 6-3 double play to erase the runner, and Leach followed with a strikeout to end the inning. Daigneau started the fifth with a bunt single, stole second and moved to third on a ground out. She then scored on a Della Guardia RBI double to push the lead to 4-0. 

Coppersmith then entered to pitch the sixth, and after a leadoff walk, second baseman Chloe Obispo (Virginia Beach, Va.) caught a soft liner and doubled the runner off first. Coppersmith would retire the final four in a row to finish off the victory.

Leach improved to 4-3 on the season after pitching five scoreless, striking out three, walking one, and allowing just two hits. Coppersmith allowed just the walk and struck out two in the final two frames.

Della Guardia and Pierce each had a pair of hits in the game, while Daigneau also had a hit and joined Pierce in the stolen base category. Keffler and Lonchar also had hits for UMBC in the second game.

The final game of the series will be Sunday at noon, with a special senior ceremony beginning at 11:35 a.m.