BALTIMORE -- The UMBC Softball team jumped out early and never looked back, en route to a 6-1 win over visiting Niagara on Sunday afternoon for its first win of the season. In the nightcap against Kent State, the Retrievers staged a furious seventh inning rally, but a diving catch with the bases loaded ended the game and gave the visitors a 5-2 win.

Game 1

• Courtney Coppersmith (York, Pa.) had a one out double in the bottom of the first and Karly Keating (Orlando, Fla.) was hit with the next pitch (one of three times she was hit on the day), and Lyndsey Evix (Cumberland, Md.) worked a two-out walk to load the bases.
• Zoe Russell (Roxboro, N.C.) was hit with the bases loaded to drive in the first run of the game, and Shanel Stott (Cumberland, Md.) then drove in two with a full count single to make it a 3-0 lead for UMBC in the first.
• The score remained that way until the bottom of the sixth when Coppersmith reached with one out on an error and then moved to second on a Keating single. 
• Ashley Della Guardia (Phoenixville, Pa.) then drove in Coppersmith with an RBI single and Keating would score when the throw home sailed past the catcher.
• Evix would then drive in pinch runner Julia Colton (Elkridge, Md.) with an RBI single ot make it 6-0
• Niagara would get one run back in the top of the seventh after a one out single, followed by the runner moving to second on a two outs on a wild pitch and then scoring on a single.
• Kya Matter (Dalmatia, Pa.) would get a ground out to finish off the complete game victory
• Matter struck out six, walked none and allowed five hits in picking up the victory
• Coppersmith and Stott each had a pair of hits

Game 2

• Jerzie Nutile (Pasadena, Md.) her first career start in the circle, and went four innings, allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out four. She also picked up her first career hit at the plate
• All the Kent State (4-5) runs were scored in the third inning and it remained that way until the seventh when the Golden Flashes hit back-to-back solo homers.
• Amaya Carroll (Hanover, Md.) who pitched the final four innings, would get her first career hit to leadoff the seventh inning.
• After Stott was robbed of a hit on a hard hit liner to center, Emily Riggs (Lancaster, Pa.) singled and Jaedyn McKeon (Stewartstown, Pa.) walked to load the bases.
• Macy Granzow (Glen Dale, Md.) had an RBI groundout to make it 5-1, and Keating was hit by a pitch to load the bases again
• Coppersmith then worked a walk in a nine pitch at-bat to force in a run and make it 5-2
• Evix came up as a pinch hitter and drilled a low liner to left, but the Kent State left fielder made a full extension diving catch to end the game

For the weekend, Della Guardia led the way on offense, going 6-for-13 (.462) with three doubles, two RBI and a run scored.

The Retrievers will host another round robin next weekend as they welcome Lafayette and Youngstown State to The Diamond at UMBC for four games. UMBC will play at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. both days.