UMBC

Michelle Olivieri hit two home runs in one inning and was 4-for-5 on the day.

Baltimore, Md.-The UMBC softball team (32-9) hit 10 home runs in two games against Georgetown (1-17) Tuesday afternoon, including three each by first baseman Melanie Denischuk and catcher Stevie Shore, en route to a doubleheader sweep, 15-1 and 19-1. Both games lasted five innings.

The Retrievers compiled 31 hits in the two games, including 17 for extra bases, and out-hit the Hoyas, 31-6.

Center fielder Courtney O’Hara led off the game with a triple and scored on Denischuk’s double to left to give UMBC the early 1-0 lead. Shore led off the second with a home run to center to start a five-run inning which also included Denischuk’s first long ball of the day, a two-run shot to center field, to go up 6-0.

The Hoyas got their only run off UMBC starter Brittany Boyd in the top of the third on a single, a sacrifice bunt, a stolen base and a throwing error. But the Retrievers got that run back and then some, adding five more in the bottom of the inning, which was highlighted by Denischuk’s three-run homer for the 11-1 advantage.

And UMBC was not done scoring, as they crossed the plate four more times in the fourth, as Shore hit a one-out solo shot to left and third baseman Kali Shirk hit a two-run double for the 15-1 victory.

Boyd (7-0) picked up the win, as she allowed just one unearned run on three hits and no walks in four innings, while striking out eight, including five in the first two innings. Jessica Taylor pitched the final inning for the Retrievers, striking out one retiring all three batters she faced.

Courtney Clark suffered the loss for the Hoyas after allowing 15 runs on 14 hits and five walks while striking out two in four innings of work.

Denischuk went 3-for-3 with six RBI to lead the Retrievers at the plate. O’Hara was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and three RBI, while Shore and catcher Krissy Licursi each had two hits, scored three runs and drove in two.

The Retrievers combined for six home runs in Game Two, a new UMBC record. Shirk led off the game with a walk, stole second and third base and scored on third baseman Reilly Ward’s homer to center field for the early 2-0 lead.

Nine Retrievers crossed the plate in the bottom of the second as UMBC recorded eight hits and sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning. Left fielder Michelle Olivieri led off with a home run to left-center field. With one out, Licursi, right fielder Carla O’Rourke and O’Hara hit back-to-back-to-back doubles and Ward and Denischuk each homered. After a walk and an error, Olivieri hit her second long ball of the inning, a three-run shot to left-center to put UMBC ahead, 11-0.

Pinch hitting, Taylor walked with the bases loaded to force in the 12th run of the game in the third inning. Then in the fourth, the Retrievers exploded for seven more runs on seven hits, scoring six runs before recording an out, for a 19-0 advantage. The inning was highlighted by Shore’s grand slam, her third roundtripper of the day.

The Hoyas notched their only run of the game in the top of the fifth on a hit batter, a walk, a groundout and a passed ball, but Taylor got the final out to end the game and preserve UMBC’s 19-1 victory.

Lauren Nicholson started the game for the Retrievers, blanking Georgetown on three hits and a walk while striking out three in four innings. Taylor pitched the final inning and allowed one run.

Ward and Olivieri were both 3-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI in the game. Ward scored three runs, while Olivieri crossed the plate twice. Shore was 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI.

Olivieri, O’Hara, Denischuk and Shore all recorded four hits on the day, and Denischuk led the way with seven RBI, followed by Shore with six and O’Hara with five. Olivieri, Shore and Licursi each scored five runs to lead UMBC in that category.

The Retrievers return to action this weekend, hosting defending America East champion Albany in a three-game series at UMBC Softball Stadium. Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m., and the series finale on Sunday will begin at 12:30 p.m., as well.