UMBC

Baltimore, Md. – UMBC (24-29, 2-12 AEC) came from behind to defeat Binghamton (16-18-2, 7-6-1 AEC) by scores of 5-4 and 3-2 in a doubleheader this afternoon at the UMBC Softball Stadium. The wins snapped the Retrievers’ three-game losing streak, and the victory in the first game gave them a 2-1 series win over the Bearcats.

In game one, Binghamton took a 2-0 lead in the third after sophomore Rose Barre blasted a two-run homerun off UMBC starter Amy Sadowl (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro Horsham). The Retrievers cut the lead in half an inning later when junior Amanda Bile (Ellicott City, Md./River Hill) hit her sixth homerun of the season.

The Bearcats came right back in the fifth when senior Christine Sweeney hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a Barre hit, and scored on a two-out double by sophomore Nicole Vitello. However, UMBC would put together a four-run sixth inning, capped by a two-out, two-run double by Sadowl to give the hosts a 5-3 lead.

Binghamton attempted a comeback in the seventh as they scored another run on a Retriever error to pull to within one. With two on and just one out, UMBC freshman Kelly Claar (Federal Way, Wash./Decatur) would come in to retire the side to earn her third save of the season. Sadowl (9-9) received the win, as she allowed four runs, three earned, on eight hits, while walking none and striking out two.

In the nightcap, Binghamton scored a run in both the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. UMBC answered in the bottom of the third when Jessica Keenan (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) hit a one-out single. She advanced to second on a single by Bile, and scored on a double by senior Sarah Crowell (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury). Junior Kristie Pickeral (Hughesville, Md./Thomas Stone) then followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Bile and knot the game at two apiece.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh. With Bile on first base, two outs, and a 0-2 count, Pickeral doubled to right-center to plate the winning run. UMBC starting pitcher Lauren Nicholson (Audubon, N.J./Paul VI) improved to 9-9 with the win, as she allowed two runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out eight.

Only the first game of the doubleheader counted towards conference play. The two teams faced each other on April 15 when they split a doubleheader at Binghamton with the Bearcats taking the first game, 7-0. UMBC bounced back in the nightcap to take a 2-0 victory.

UMBC returns to action this weekend when they host Stony Brook for a three-game series beginning Saturday at 12 p.m.