UMBC

Ashlea Underwood drove in two runs with a two-out single to keep the Retrievers' rally alive.

Baltimore, Md.-The second-seeded UMBC softball team (24-8) rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough to come back from an early 6-0 deficit, falling to third-seeded Brown, 6-4, on the final day of competition at the UMBC Spring Classic.

In a rematch of Saturday’s 9-1 five-inning UMBC victory, the Retrievers faced Brown starter Kristen Schindler, the same pitcher whom they reached for four runs in two-thirds of an inning. But this time the UMBC batters could not solve her, as she limited them to four hits in the first five innings. When hitters did reach base, they were stranded there, as the Retrievers left 12 runners on, including the bases loaded twice.

UMBC starter Jessica Taylor (Baltimore, Md./Mount de Sales) got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first but gave up a two-out, two-run home run to shortstop Mary Seid in the second. After allowing a walk and a single in the third, Taylor was relieved by Brittany Boyd (Baltimore, Md./North County/East Carolina), who allowed a single to load the bases and then hit a batter to force in the third run of the game, but got the final two outs to escape further damage.

After setting down the Bears quietly in the fourth, Boyd ran into trouble in the fifth, as four hits, compounded by three outfield errors which allowed runners to take extra bases, led to three two-out runs and a 6-0 Brown lead. Freshman Krista Kearns (Santa Fe Springs, Calif./Santa Fe) relieved Boyd with a runner on second and struck out the first batter she faced on three pitches to end the inning.

Kearns retired all seven batters she faced, holding Brown to the 6-0 advantage. The Retrievers put five runners on base in the next two innings but could not capitalize on any of them.

Third baseman Reilly Ward (Olney, Md./Sherwood) led off the bottom of the seventh with a single through the right side and ignited a rally. With one out, shortstop Dana Shepherd (Columbia, Md./Oakland Mills) doubled to drive in Ward and catcher Jessica Griffith (Linthicum, Md./Glen Burnie/Anne Arundel CC) and designated player Stevie Shore (New Carlisle, Ohio/Northwestern) both walked.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Michelle Moses came in to relieve Schindler and immediately gave up a two-run single to second baseman Ashlea Underwood (Visalia, Calif./Central Valley Christian/Reedley JC), which pulled the Retrievers to within three runs at 6-3. Left fielder Courtney O’Hara (Pasadena, Md./Institute of Notre Dame), who had been red-hot at the plate all weekend, hit an infield single to score Shore, but center fielder Kali Shirk (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) struck out swinging to end the game and the Retrievers’ comeback attempt.

Schindler picked up the win, allowing four runs on eight hits and seven walks while striking out two in 6.2 innings. Moses earned the save after halting the UMBC rally, as she gave up two hits and struck out one in one-third of an inning.

Taylor suffered the loss for UMBC, falling to 1-2 on the season. She allowed three runs on five hits and two walks in 2.1 innings of work. Boyd gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks in 2.1 innings, while Kearns struck out four batters in 2.1 innings.

O’Hara went 2-for-2 at the plate with two walks, a double and an RBI, while Ward, Shepherd and right fielder Krissy Licursi (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Township/Sussex CC) were all 2-for-4. Ward and Shepherd each scored a run, while Shepherd also hit a double and posted an RBI. Underwood was 1-for-3 with two runs driven in.

In five games on the weekend, O’Hara hit .889 (8-for-9) with four doubles, a triple, a home run, six runs scored and six RBI. She also walked three times for a .917 on-base percentage, and she collected 17 total bases for a 1.889 slugging percentage. Shepherd hit .625 (10-for-16) with three doubles, a home run, six runs scored and seven RBI. She reached base at a .647 clip and slugged 1.000 with 16 total bases. Licursi hit .538 (7-for-13) with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored and three RBI.

Ward and first baseman Melanie Denischuk (Poway, Calif./Hugh Sutherland (Carstairs, Alberta)/Indian River CC/Auburn) each hit .412 (7-for-17), with Ward hitting a double, scoring four runs and driving in three, and Denischuk hitting three homers, scoring four times and driving in eight runs. She slugged .941 with 16 total bases.

Brown won the UMBC Spring Classic championship with a 7-3 victory over top-seeded Niagara. Niagara had defeated fourth-seeded Sacred Heart, 10-2, in five innings to reach the title game. Earlier in the day, Sacred Heart finished off St. Francis (N.Y.), 4-3, in nine innings to conclude Saturday's halted game, then defeated the fifth-seeded Terriers again, 10-1, in five innings.

The Retrievers host Howard in a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 28, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Fourth Annual UMBC Spring Classic

Friday, March 24, 2006 – Pool Play
Niagara 9, St. Francis (N.Y.) 1
Niagara 7, Sacred Heart 3
Brown 10, St. Francis (N.Y.) 1 (5 innings)
UMBC 8, Sacred Heart 0 (5 innings)
UMBC 17, St. Francis (N.Y.) 1 (5 innings)

Saturday, March 25, 2006 – Pool Play
Niagara 7, Brown 1
Brown 4, Sacred Heart 3
Niagara 4, UMBC 2
UMBC 9, Brown 1 (5 innings)
Sacred Heart 4, St. Francis (N.Y.) 3 (9 innings)

Sunday, March 26, 2006 – Bracket Play
No. 4 Sacred Heart 10, No. 5 St. Francis (N.Y.) 1 (5 innings)
No. 3 Brown 6, No. 2 UMBC 4
No. 1 Niagara 10, No. 4 Sacred Heart 2 (5 innings)
Championship Game: No. 3 Brown 7, No. 1 Niagara 3