Vestal, N.Y.- America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Courtney Coppersmith (York, Pa.) threw a one-hit shutout as the UMBC Retrievers earned their third consecutive conference title with a 4-0 victory over UAlbany.
UMBC (31-10) did not allow a run in the three tournament games, becoming the first team in America East Tournament history to do so, after posting earlier 1-0 victories over Binghamton and UAlbany.
The Retrievers are the first team to three-peat since UAlbany in 06-08.
Coppersmith, along with seniors
Karly Keating (Orlando, Fla.) and
Logan Hawker (Mechanicsville, Va.) and sophomore
Ashley Della Guardia (Phoenixville, Pa.) earned All-Tournament Team honors. The latter trio each drove home game-winning runs in the three victories.
"It never gets old," said head coach
Chris Kuhlmeyer of the title. "A three-peat is an insanely hard thing to do. Just the accomplishments that these ladies have achieved this year, the team ball they played, it means everything to me and the coaching staff and I couldn't be prouder of them."
The Retrievers scored single runs in the first four innings. Coppersmith fanned 14 batters, walked just one and allowed just a fifth inning single. She struck out 35 batters in 16 innings of work and earned all three tournament victories.
UMBC took the lead just three batters into the game when Della Guardia singled home Keating from second base.
In the second inning, senior
Anna Lonchar (Bristow, Va.) blasted her team-leading seventh home run well over the left-center field fence.
The following inning, junior
Meghan Dempsey (Collegeville, Pa.) scored from third base as
Sierra Pierce stole second and the catcher's throw was off line and allowed her to cross the plate.
Dempsey drove home the fourth run in the fourth inning, as her one-out, bases loaded single to center field scored pinch-runner
Jaedyn McKeon (Stewartstown, Pa.).
Coppersmith retired the final eight hitters to seal the victory. The three-time America East Pitcher of the Year earned her second tournament Most Outstanding Player Award, repeating her 2019 accolade. She is the fifth player in America East history to win multiple M.O.P honors.
The Retrievers will learn of their NCAA Tournament placement at Sunday's selection show, which will air on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m.
