UMBC

Dana Shepherd went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the loss.

Baltimore, Md.-Despite four home runs, including two in the bottom of the seventh inning, the UMBC softball team (33-11, 3-3 AEC) dropped the rubber match of the series, 10-6, to defending America East champion Albany (20-4, 5-1 AEC) Monday afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium.

The Retrievers held a 3-0 lead after three innings thanks to a solo home run by first baseman Stevie Shore (New Carlisle, Ohio/Northwestern) in the second and a two-run shot by designated player Melanie Denischuk (Poway, Calif./Hugh Sutherland (Carstairs, Alberta)/Indian River CC/Auburn) in the third.

But the Great Danes took the lead in the top of the fourth after two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases and two singles and a fielder’s choice drove in four runs for a 4-3 advantage.

The score remained the same until the final inning, when the Albany bats exploded for six runs on four hits of reliever Krista Kearns (Santa Fe Springs, Calif./Santa Fe) to go ahead 10-3.

The Retrievers attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, as shortstop Dana Shepherd (Columbia, Md./Oakland Mills) and third baseman Reilly Ward (Olney, Md./Sherwood) each homered with two outs to pull to within three runs at 10-6, but Albany ace Casey Halloran induced a groundout to end the game.

Halloran picked up the win, pitching a complete game and allowing six runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out nine.

Kearns suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on eight hits and two walks in 2.2 innings of relief. Lauren Nicholson (Audubon, N.J./Paul VI) started the game for UMBC and allowed three runs on one hit and three walks in 3.1 innings. Jessica Taylor (Baltimore, Md./Mount de Sales) got the final three outs for the Retrievers.

Control was an issue for the Retriever pitchers, who allowed five walks and hit five batters in the game.

Shepherd extended her hitting streak to 19 games with a single to right field in the third inning. Denischuk’s hit streak reached 12 games with her second-inning home run, her 19th of the season.

The Retrievers return to action Wednesday, April 12, as they head to Binghamton for a doubleheader with their America East Conference foe. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.