UMBC

Krista Kearns allowed two runs on five hits to pick up the victory in game one.

Burlington, Vt.-The UMBC softball team took the first two games of a three-game series against America East rival Vermont, sweeping a doubleheader by scores of 4-2 and 9-6 Saturday afternoon. The Retrievers reach the 40-win mark for the first time since 2003, improving to 41-12 overall and 9-4 in conference action, while the Catamounts fall to 12-21 on the season and 3-10 in league play.

Vermont got on the board first in game one when catcher Whitney Borisenok hit a two-out solo home run to right field in the bottom of the third for the Catamounts’ first hit of the game. Kate Haber hit an RBI single in the next inning, one of three hits in the frame, to give Vermont a 2-0 lead.

But a leadoff single by second baseman Ashlea Underwood and two errors by the Vermont defense cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth, and the Retrievers went ahead with three runs in the sixth.

Third baseman Reilly Ward and catcher Stevie Shore walked and first baseman Jessica Griffith hit a two-run double down the right field line to take a 3-2 lead. Griffith advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by right fielder Michelle Olivieri and scored on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Courtney O’Hara for the 4-2 victory.

UMBC starter Krista Kearns (12-5) picked up the complete-game victory after allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six in seven innings. Vermont starter Aimee Kern (10-10) also went the distance and suffered the loss after giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out 10.

The Retrievers scored single runs in each of the first two innings of the second game. Three straight one-out singles in the first, the last an RBI hit down the right field line by shortstop Dana Shepherd put UMBC ahead, 1-0. Then in the second, center fielder Kali Shirk walked with one out, stole second base and scored on a double by O’Hara.

The Retrievers added another in the fourth as Underwood walked and scored on Shirk’s triple for a 3-0 lead.

Vermont got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the fourth on third baseman Hayley Crosby’s leadoff home run. But UMBC added two more in the top of the fifth as Shepherd led off the inning with a triple and scored on Ward’s single. Ward eventually scored on a wild pitch to give the Retrievers a 5-1 advantage.

Designated player Melanie Denischuk’s one-out double in the sixth scored another run, which proved key as the Catamounts crossed the plate four times in the bottom of the inning to pull to within one run at 6-5.

But the Retrievers scored three times in the top of the seventh to go ahead 9-5 on two wild pitches and an RBI single by O’Hara.

Two consecutive two-out doubles by Crosby and Borisenok scored a sixth run for Vermont, but Amy Sadowl relieved Jessica Taylor and recorded the final out to record the save on the 9-6 victory.

UMBC starter Lauren Nicholson (16-1) picked up the victory after allowing five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six in 5.1 innings of work. Taylor pitched 1.1 innings in relief and gave up one run on three hits and a walk and struck out one batter. Sadowl retired the only batter she faced in the bottom of the seventh.

Alison Daggett (2-8) suffered the loss for Vermont after allowing nine runs (six earned) on 10 hits and five walks while striking out five in the complete game.

O’Hara was 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Retrievers at the plate.

The two teams meet again Sunday for the series finale at 12 p.m.