UMBC

Baltimore, Md.- Freshman second-baseman Gina Olivieri hit a homerun in each of the Retrievers’ games to lead UMBC (13-17) to a sweep of Central Connecticut State (2-14) this afternoon at the UMBC Softball Stadium. Olivieri went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBI’s in the first game to give the Retrievers a 10-2 victory in six innings, while her two-run shot in the bottom of the eight inning gave UMBC a 3-1 win in the nightcap.

With the victory in the second game, Head Coach Joe French earned his 100th win at UMBC. He went 47-21 during his first season, and finished at 40-22 last year. He is now 100-60 (.625).

In the first game, the Blue Devils jumped out to an early lead in the first inning after UMBC starting pitcher Lauren Nicholson hit the leadoff hitter, Deb Munson, with a pitch and walked the two successive batters. Nicholson forced the first out at the plate, but gave up singles to junior Karolyn Andrews and sophomore Kristin Rozanski to give the Blue Devils a 2-0 advantage.

The Retrievers scored their first run in the third when freshman Kelly Claar doubled in junior Amanda Bile. UMBC broke the game open in the fifth inning when they scored seven runs on five hits. The inning was capped by Olivieri’s second homerun of the season – a grand slam over the right center fence to score teammates Reilly Ward, Tara Lindsey, and Claar. UMBC added two more runs in the sixth behind singles by senior Jen SanFilippo and Olivieri to put the game away with a final score of 10-2.

Nicholson (5-4) earned the win as she allowed two runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out two in six innings of work. CCSU’s Erin Monroe was tabbed with the loss as she went 4.2 innings, giving up eight runs on nine hits, while walking four and striking out one.

In game two, the Blue Devils got on the board first once more when Andrews reached second on an error by UMBC’s Sarah Crowell. She later scored on a single by teammate Tracy Guerrera. The Retrievers tied the game in the third when Bile hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a fielder’s choice, and scored on an error by CCSU’s Ali Brander.

The score remained knotted at one apiece until the bottom of the eight when UMBC freshman Reilly Ward hit a one-out single, and was followed by Olivieri, who hit her second homerun of the day. CCSU stranded 11 for the game, while UMBC left 10 on base.

Claar (5-7), who pitched in the second game, received the win, as she scattered nine hits, allowing no earned runs in eight innings of work, while walking one and fanning five. Blue Devil starter Sarah Mardis got the loss, as she allowed two earned run0