UMBC

Baltimore, MD—In a game which set records for the longest UMBC softball game by innings (16) and time (4:41), UMBC (16-16-1, 1-1) nipped Boston University (7-11, 1-1), 6-5, in 16 innings in the first game of a doubleheader at UMBC Softball Stadium. The Terriers came back to win the nightcap, 10-0, in five innings.

The series between the Retrievers and Terriers had already taken some twists when it was moved from Boston to Baltimore because of weather concerns over the weekend. Then, Sunday’s doubleheader was washed away, leaving the teams to play two of the scheduled three-game series on Monday at 10 a.m. The first pitch occurred at 10:07 a.m. and the final out of game one was recorded at 2:48, making the contest 4 hours and 41 minutes long.

On two occasions, it appeared as though UMBC had put the Terriers away. First, UMBC built a 3-0 lead through 4 ½ innings, as sophomore left fielder Reilly Ward singled in a pair in the bottom of the third inning and junior second baseman Ashlea Underwood plated a run with an RBI double in the fifth inning. But in the bottom of the fifth (Boston University was the home team), Terrier sophomore center fielder Chiya Louie hit a two-run home run to cut the UMBC lead to 3-2, and, an inning later, sophomore second baseman Brandi Shields got a two-out single to score pinch runner Molly Gallagher to tie the game at 3-all.

UMBC put up a pair of runs in the top of the tenth, as Ward delivered an RBI double and another run scored on a Terrier miscue. With the Retrievers leading, 5-3, and two outs in the Terrier tenth, catcher Jenni Shields singled, and junior first baseman Liz Alley hit a home run to center field off reliever Jessica Taylor to re-tie the score at 5-all.

UMBC would finally prevail in the top of the 16^th, as freshman center fielder Kali Shirk’s bloop one-out hit to left field plated designated player Amanda Bile and reliever Lauren Nicholson (7-9) retired the Terriers in order in the bottom of the inning.

Terrier sophomore hurler Ashlee Freeman (2-6) was tagged with the loss despite pitching all 16 innings, and allowing 4 earned runs. She struck out 18 Retrievers and walked 7. Nicholson did not allow a run in her 5 innings of work.

The Terriers struck quickly in game two, knocking Nicholson out with a six-run first. After Terrier left fielder DeKenya Williams plated a run with a single, Alley used the gusty winds to poke her second home run of the day over the left field fence with two mates aboard. After catcher Jenni Shields got a hit, Brandi Shields hit a two-run home run to left field.

Boston University tacked on a run in the second and posted three more in the fourth as the game was halted after the Retrievers failed to score in the top of the fifth frame. Terrier freshman hurler Jen Grapensteter (2-0) allowed just 4 hits to post the shutout victory. Nicholson took the loss and fell to 7-10 on the season.

Amanda Bile led UMBC with 4 hits (4/10) on the day, while Ward drove in three of UMBC’s runs.

Terrier shortstop Jamie Haas was 6 for 12 in the twin bill with 3 stolen bases and 3 runs scored. Alley drove in six runs in the two games.

Game 1: UMBC 6, Boston University 5 (16 innings)

UMBC                    002          010          000          200          000          1-             6              16            0

Boston Univ.        000          002          100          000          000          0-             5              11            3

UMBC-Sadowl, Taylor (6), Nicholson (12) and Shore; BU-Freeman and J. Shields. 2B-UM-Underwood, Ward. 3B-BU-Haas. HR-BU-Louie, Alley.

Game 2: Boston University 10, UMBC 0 (5 innings)

UMBC                    000          00-           0              4              1

Boston Univ.        610          3x-           10            11            1

UMBC-Nicholson, Sadowl (1), Passero (3) and Shore, Griffith (4). BU-Grapensteter and J. Shields. HR: B-Alley, B. Shields.