UMBC

Stevie Shore's two-run home run led UMBC to a 6-5 game one win over Albany.

Baltimore, Md. – The UMBC softball team (33-10, 3-2 America East) split two games on Sunday with Albany (19-4, 4-1 AE) at UMBC Softball Stadium.  UMBC rallied in game one for a 6-5 win while it was the Great Danes in game two winning with a late rally for a 7-6 victory. 

In game one, Albany held a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning.  UMBC loaded the bases with a single, error and a walk to Reilly Ward bringing Melanie Denischuk to the plate.  Denischuk doubled two runners in, closing the gap to 5-3 with runners at second and third. 

A fielder’s choice brought UMBC within one at 5-4.  Stevie Shore with two outs hit a two-run home run over the center field fence, giving UMBC the 6-5 advantage. 

After a seventh inning lead off walk by Lauren Nicholson, the Retrievers brought in Krista Kearns.  Kearns allowed a hit but struck out one and induced a final out fly ball to right field to earn her second save of the year.  Nicholson with the win moves to 13-1 on the year.  She went 6.0 innings allowing five runs on seven hits. 

Casey Halloran took the loss to fall to 13-3 after allowing six runs on six hits with eight strike outs. 

UMBC took the lead early in the nightcap as Melanie Denischuk, one of 25 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finalists, blasted a three-run homer to center to give the Retrievers a 3-1 advantage in the third inning. UMBC would add two more in the fourth on a two-run homer by Michelle Olivieri, giving the Retrievers a 6-2 lead at the end of five frames.

The Great Danes would battle back, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth on a wild pitch, an error and an Ali Meacham RBI double to cut the deficit to 6-5. Ogden then hit a two-run shot in the top of the seventh to plate herself and Amber Maisonet, reversing the deficit and giving the Great Danes the 7-6 win.    

Brittany Boyd took the loss for UMBC, falling to 7-1 on the year.  Boyd went 1.2 innings in relief, allowing two runs on two hits.  Krista Kearns started for UMBC, going 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on five hits. 

Halloran pitched for Albany, earning the win to go to 14-3 on the season.  Halloran allowed six runs on nine hits in 7.0 innings. 

UMBC and Albany will conclude the series on Monday at 12 p.m.