UMBC

Dana Shepherd got one of the Retrievers' two hits and drove in their only run of the game.

Baltimore, Md.-After taking the first two games of the series in a doubleheader sweep at America East foe Binghamton two weeks ago, the UMBC softball team dropped the finale, 6-1, Wednesday afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium. The Retrievers fall to 41-14 on the season and 9-6 in conference play, while the Bearcats improve to 11-28 overall and 4-11 in league action.

Binghamton center fielder Devin Glezen hit a one-out solo home run in the top of the first and the Bearcats scored another in the second for an early 2-0 lead. After a quiet third and fourth, Binghamton struck for two in the fifth for a 4-0 advantage.

Binghamton starter Katie Hansen took a no-hitter into the fifth but allowed two hits in the inning, including an RBI single by shortstop Dana Shepherd to drive in left fielder Courtney O’Hara and put the Retrievers on the board.

But the Bearcats scored twice more in the top of the sixth on a two-out, two-run double by shortstop Rose Barre, one of her three hits on the day, and Hansen retired the Retrievers in order in each of the last two innings to hold on for the 6-1 victory.

UMBC starter Krista Kearns (12-6) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on five hits and five walks while striking out one in 4.1 innings of work. Lauren Nicholson pitched the final 2.2 innings in relief and allowed two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out two.

Hansen picked up the complete-game win, as she allowed one run on two hits and five walks while striking out seven in seven innings.

The Retrievers have lost two in a row for only the third time in 2006 and the first since April 9-10 against Albany. They have not lost three straight all season. UMBC is also in its longest home run drought of the season, as the third-most powerful team in the NCAA has not hit a long ball in four games, the last coming in the second game of the Coppin State doubleheader on April 18.

The Retrievers return to action this weekend, hosting America East rival Stony Brook for the final three games of the regular season. The teams play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and a single game Sunday at noon. Saturday is also Parents’ Day, while Senior Day will be celebrated on Sunday. UMBC’s five seniors – Jessica Griffith, Jessica Keenan, Lauren Nicholson, Amy Sadowl and Ashlea Underwood – will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.