College Park, Md. – UMBC scored two runs apiece in the second, fourth and sixth innings and senior pitcher Courtney Coppersmith (York, Pa.) battled through seven innings as the Retrievers defeated Maryland, 6-2, at Maryland Softball Stadium.

The Retrievers (10-4) have won eight consecutive games and defeated Maryland for the first time since 1997. The Terrapins had won 14 consecutive games in the series.

"This was a big win for our program," said head coach Chris Kuhlmeyer. "Maryland is such a great program, and coached very well by Coach Montgomery and his staff. I couldn't be prouder of our Dawgs, and can enjoy another big win tonight, but we have five more games coming up on Friday-Sunday that we have to prepare for starting tomorrow."

Four Retrievers collected two hits apiece. Coppersmith went 2-for-4, with a pair of RBI's, while Casey Turner (Baltimore, Md./Eastern Tech) also banged out two hits, with a run scored and an RBI. Senior Karly Keating (Orlando, Fla.) and classmate Logan Hawker added two hits apiece.

Coppersmith (2-0, 3 saves) allowed three hits and her first two runs of the year. She walked seven, but fanned ten Terrapins in only her fifth appearance of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

·       The first three Retrievers reached base in the second inning. Sierra Pierce (Youngstown, Ohio) walked, Anna Lonchar (Bristow, Va.0 singled and Ashley DellaGuardia (Phoenixville, Pa.) doubled down the left field line, scoring Pierce from second base. With one out, Turner singled to right field, plating Lonchar to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

·       UMBC struck for two more runs in the fourth to build a 4-0 advantage. Coppersmith helped her own cause, doubling to center field with one out, scoring Turner and Macy Granzow (Glenn Dale, Md.)

·       Maryland got on the board with a single run in the fourth, but Coppersmith fanned two batters with the bases loaded to wiggle out of trouble.  

·       UMBC responded with two runs in the top of the sixth. The Retrievers loaded the bases on singles by Coppersmith, Hawker and Pierce with one out in the sixth. Lonchar drew a bases loaded walk, forcing home pinch runner Julia Colton (Elkridge, Md./Howard), and DellaGuardia reached on an error by the pitcher, with Hawker coming home to score on the play.

·       The Terps added a run in their half of the sixth inning to cut their deficit to 6-2.

UMBC banged out 12 hits, but left 13 runners on base. Coppersmith stranded 11 Terrapins on the base paths.