NICHOLSON PITCHES FIRST CAREER NO-HITTER AS UMBC SOFTBALL SWEEPS COPPIN STATE, 9-0 AND 9-1
3/7/2005
Baltimore, Md. – Junior Lauren Nicholson (Audubon, N.J./Paul VI) threw her first collegiate no-hitter in game one, while senior Kristie Pickeral (Hughesville, Md./Thomas Stone) hit a grand slam in game two to give UMBC (5-8) a doubleheader sweep over Coppin State, by scores of 9-0 and 9-1, respectively. Both victories came in five innings of play.
In the first game, sophomore Reilly Ward (Olney, Md./Sherwood) was able to reach base on a fielder’s choice with one out. She advanced to third when teammate Jessica Griffith (Linthicum, Md./Glen Burnie/Anne Arundel CC) got on base on a Coppin State error. Freshman Stevie Shore (New Carlisle, Ohio/Northwestern) then singled to load the bases before Eagle pitcher Danielle Summerour gave up two walks to junior Ashlea Underwood (Visalia, Calif./Central Valley Christian/Reedley JC) and senior Megan Oursler (Drayden, Md./Northern/Coll. of Southern Maryland) to give UMBC a 2-0 lead. The Retrievers would add two more runs in the second inning from RBI singles by freshmen Kali Shirk (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) and Dana Shepherd (Columbia, Md./Oakland Mills), before extending the lead to 9-0 in the third inning. Nicholson received the win and improved to 4-4 on the season as she threw for five innings, walking two, while striking out three.
In game two, UMBC got on the board early after Shirk led off with a bunt single, and scored on the next play as sophomore Amanda McGhee (Philadelphia, Pa./North Hagerstown/Hagerstown CC) blasted a two-run homerun to give the Retrievers a 2-0 advantage. UMBC would take a 3-0 lead into the next inning before scoring five runs in the second, capped by a grand slam from Pickeral. The Retrievers would score another run in the third on an RBI-single by Shirk before Coppin got on the board in the top of the fourth on a fielder’s choice by freshman Raquel Sealey. Junior Amy Sadowl (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro Horsham) received the win for UMBC as she pitched four innings, giving up one run on three hits, while walking one and fanning seven. Freshman Katie Jo Passero (Victor, N.Y./Victor Central School) pitched in the fifth inning, and allowed no hits while striking out one.
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