UMBC

Baltimore, Md. – UMBC (6-8) opened the Third Annual Spring Classic by winning its fifth consecutive game with a 10-0 shutout of St. Francis (NY) in five innings. In earlier matches, Niagara (1-0) defeated St. Francis (PA), 8-0 in five innings, and St. Francis (PA) (1-13) bounced back to record a victory over Delaware State (0-1), 12-10, in eight innings. The final game of the day will be between St. Francis (NY) and Maryland-Eastern Shore.

UMBC got on the board early after Terrier pitcher Sarah Purtle walked Retriever senior Kristie Pickeral (Hughesville, Md./Thomas Stone) to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Jessica Griffith (Linthicum, Md./Glen Burnie/Anne Arundel CC) was then hit by a pitch to plate a runner. Freshman Stevie Shore (New Carlisle, Ohio/Northwestern) followed with an RBI single, before junior Ashlea Underwood (Visalia, Calif./Central Valley Christian/Reedley JC) hit a two-run double to give UMBC a 4-0 advantage.

The Retrievers added five runs in the third, highlighted by another two-run double from Underwood, before Pickeral blasted a homerun to left-center in the fourth inning to give UMBC the 10-0 lead. Retriever pitcher Lauren Nicholson (Audubon, N.J./Paul VI) (5-4) received the win, as she gave up four hits, while striking out four.

The tournament will continue throughout the weekend. On Saturday, Niagara and UMES will play at 9:30am, St. Francis (NY) will go against Delaware State at 11:30am, while UMBC will face St. Francis (PA) and UMES at 1:30pm and 3:30pm, respectively.

Game 1:

                                    1          2          3          4          5                      R         H         E

Niagara                        4          2          1          0          1                      8          10        0

St. Francis (PA)           0          0          0          0          X                     0          2          0

WP- Viola (1-0); LP- Gargiulo (0-8)

Extra-base hits: Niagara – Baker, Sum

Game 2:

                                    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8                                   R         H         E

St. Francis (PA)           2   0   0   0   3   0   3   4                                   12        11        0

Delaware State 2   2   2   1   1   0   0   2                                   10        12        0

WP- Harlan (1-5); LP- Murray (0-1)

Key Players: St. Francis (PA)- Lancaster, Mackel; Delaware State- Ansbach pinch hit for a 2-run HR in 8^th inning

Game 3:

                                    1          2          3          4          5                      R         H         E

St. Francis (NY)           0          0          0          0          0                      0          4          0

UMBC                         4          0          5          1          X                     10        10        0

WP- Nicholson; LP- Purtle; HR- Pickeral