The four-time defending America East champion UMBC Softball team looks to begin the 2024 season on a high note when it hosts the UMBC Round Robin beginning on Friday.

The Retrievers will play a doubleheader against Saint Peter's on Friday beginning at 1 p.m., and then will play Holy Cross and Stony Brook on Saturday at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively.

UMBC,  who was picked to finish first in the America East preseason coaches poll, return All-Conferfence First Team members Kya Matter (pitcher) and Ashley Della Guardia (first base). The Retrievers also welcome a record 11 freshman to the program.

The 2023 team went 26-17, including 15-4 in America East play, winning the Conference regular and postseason titles, and earning a fourth-straight berth in the NCAA Tournament. All games this weekend will have live stats available, and all UMBC games will be live streamed on AmericaEast.TV

Scouting the opponents:

Saint Peters:

• The last time the Retrievers faced the Peacocks was on March 3, 2020 where the Retrievers won 7-0 in Hampton, Va.
• The Peacocks opened their season last Saturday with a double-header against Central Connecticut State University, dropping both games 4-3 and 8-0 (6 innings).
• Saint Peters holds a young team adding 11 freshmen to their roster for the 2024 season while returning 11. 
• Last season the Peacocks went 30-21 and 9-11 in the MAAC conference.
• The Peacocks are under head coach Chris Stelma who enters his eighth season.

Holy Cross:

• The Crusaders open up the 2024 season under head coach Kimberly Stiles who enters her third season.
• Last season the Crusaders went 15-36-1 and 2-16 in the Patriot League.
• This will be the first game the Retrievers face against Holy Cross since March 25, 2007 where the Retrievers won 9-4.
• Holy Cross brings back a mix in the roster adding five freshmen and one transfer.

Stony Brook:

• Stony Brook started the 2024 season with a 1-4 record at the Felsberg Invitational with a 7-5 win against Ohio State.
• Last season the Seawolves went 29-27 and 10-13 in the CAA.
• The Seawolves were selected to finish seventh in the CAA entering their second season in the CAA.
• Alyssa Costello and Alicia Orosco were named to the 2024 CAA Softball Preseason Watch List.
• The last time the Retrievers faced the Seawolves was away on April 27, 2022 where the Seawolves won 2-0.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (subject to change due to weather)

FRIDAY: 2/16

Saint Peter's vs. UMBC 1 PM
Saint Peter's vs. UMBC 3 PM

SATURDAY: 2/17

Morgan State (A) vs. Holy Cross (H) 10 AM
Morgan State (A) vs. Stony Brook (H) 12:30 PM
Holy Cross vs. UMBC 3:00 PM
Stony Brook vs. UMBC 5:30 PM

SUNDAY: 2/18

Stony Brook (A) vs. Morgan State (H) 10 AM
Stony Brook (H) vs. Holy Cross (A) 12:30 PM
Morgan State (A) vs. Holy Cross (H) 3:00 PM