UMBC

Reilly Ward was 5-for-7 with four RBI in two games against Boston University.

Baltimore, Md.-The UMBC softball team swept a doubleheader from America East rival Boston University Friday afternoon, 5-3 and 11-7, to move into a tie with Albany for second place in the conference standings. The Retrievers (37-11, 7-3 AEC) and Terriers (19-20, 5-5 AEC) had been tied for third heading into the series.

Boston U. falls into a tie with Stony Brook for fourth place after the Seawolves split a doubleheader with Vermont. Albany lost both games of a doubleheader against Maine to fall to 7-3 in league play, as the Black Bears took over atop the standings at 8-2.

The first game remained scoreless through four-and-a-half innings until left fielder Courtney O’Hara (Pasadena, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) walked with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the fifth, forcing in first baseman Jessica Griffith (Linthicum, Md./Glen Burnie/Anne Arundel CC) for a 1-0 lead.

The Terriers tied the score the next inning, as third baseman Brooke Hudson singled and scored on a wild pitch.

But the Retrievers’ bats took a 5-1 lead with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by a two-run homer by catcher Stevie Shore (New Carlisle, Ohio/Northwestern), her 12th of the season.

Boston U. threatened in the top of the seventh as shortstop Melissa Dubay hit a one-out, two-run home run to pull back to within two at 5-3, but UMBC starter Krista Kearns (Santa Fe Springs, Calif./Santa Fe) induced a double play to end the game and preserve the victory.

Kearns picked up the win and improved to 11-4 on the season after allowing three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two in the seven-inning complete game. She took a no-hitter into the fifth inning.

Melody Popravak suffered the loss for the Terriers, as she allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits in 1.2 innings of relief. Cassidi Hardy started the game for Boston U. and allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out eight in 4.1 innings.

The Retriever bats exploded for eight runs in the first two innings of the nightcap and took a quick 8-0 lead before the Terriers got on the board in the top of the third. Ward doubled in each of the first two innings, driving in four runs, including three on her bases loaded two-bagger down the left field line in the second.

Hudson hit a one-out grand slam in the top of the fourth to pull Boston U. to within three runs at 8-5.

Shore walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, and Dubay hit an RBI double in the top of the fifth before UMBC scored two more in the bottom of the inning for an 11-6 lead. Boston U. added one in the top of the sixth to pull back to within four at 11-7, but would not score again as the Retrievers held on for the victory.

Senior Lauren Nicholson (Audubon, N.J./Paul VI) picked up the win and improved to 15-1 after allowing six runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out four in 5.2 combined innings of work. She started the game and went 3.2 innings before junior Jessica Taylor (Baltimore, Md./Mount de Sales) came in in relief and allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three in 1.1 innings. Nicholson pitched the final frame.

Ward went 3-for-4 with four RBI for the Retrievers, while center fielder Kali Shirk (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) and shortstop Dana Shepherd (Columbia, Md./Oakland Mills) each had three hits as well.

The Retrievers and Terriers meet again Saturday at 11 a.m. for the series finale.