The three-time defending America East champion UMBC Softball team will begin the 2023 campaign at a newly renovated The Diamond at UMBC on Saturday. The team will host Niagara and Kent State for the UMBC Round Robin #1

On Saturday, the Retrievers will play Kent State at 1:30 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. matchup with Niagara. On Sunday, UMBC will face Niagara at 12:30 p.m. and then close the weekend with a 3 p.m. game against Kent State. There will be a neutral matchup between the Purple Eagles and Golden Flashes to start each day (11 a.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. on Sunday).

All games of the tournament will be streamed live, for free, on AmericaEast.TV.

The Retrievers went 31-12 and 12-6 in the America East in 2022. They also became the first team not to allow a run in the conference tournament as they won three-straight en route to the title. 

Key Returners:

After a breakout senior season in which she led the UMBC Softball team in average (.342) and runs (21), Karly Keating (Orlando, Fla.) is returning to the program for her final year of eligibility.

Also returning is All-American Pitcher/Outfielder Courtney Coppersmith (York, Pa.). The three-time America East Pitcher of the Year, earned a spot in four separate national top player lists, as announced by D1 Softball and Extra Inning Softball

The lefty was first named to the D1Softball Preseason Top 100 Players list (#98). She then earned a spot on three separate Extra Inning Softball lists: Extra Elite Top 100 Players (#82), Extra Elite Top Pitchers (#23) and Extra Elite Top Two-Way Players (#3).

Reigning America East Rookie of the Year Kya Matter also returns for UMBC. The pitcher also was also named to the America East Second-Team All-Conference Pitcher, America East All-Rookie Team,.ECAC First-Team, NFCA All-Region Second-Team, Extra Inning Softball All-Freshman Team, Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 Finalist. She led the team in wins with 15, and her 1.01 ERA was the lowest by a freshman in program history, and fourth lowest overall in a single-season in program history. She also threw an 18-strikeout no-hitter in her first ever home start on 2/26 against Coppin State.

About Niagara:

- This will be the season-opener for the Purple Eagles 

- NU finished the 2022 campaign with an overall record of 14-26 and a 8-12 record in the MAAC.

- Samantha Hare returns for the Purple Eagles after an impressive 2022 campaign,
recording 37 hits and a .314 batting average leading NU with four home runs, 25 RBI
and a .458 slugging percentage.

- Head Coach Larry Puzan returns for his 10th season in charge of the Purple Eagles.

- Niagara has their first home game on April 4th, playing 21 consecutive games away from
home to start the 2023 season.

About Kent State:

- The Golden Flashes played in the Texas State tournament last weekend and dropped all five games. 

- They competed against Wichita State, Villanova & Texas State.

- They finished the 2022 campaign with an overall record of 20-28 and a 11-17 record in the
MAC conference.

- Savannah Wing returns after a standout 2022 freshman season, earning all MAC
freshman honors and averaging a team high. 375 on-base percentage.

- Eric Oakley returns for his 7th season as the Head Coach for Kent State.