UMBC

Jessica Griffith went 2-for-3 and drove in the Retrievers' only two runs in the second game against Stony Brook.

Baltimore, Md.-The UMBC softball team mustered only four runs in two games and dropped the doubleheader against America East rival Stony Brook, 4-2 and 7-2, Saturday afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium. The Retrievers fall to 41-16 overall and 9-8 in conference action, while the Seawolves improve to 23-21 on the season and 8-6 in league play.

The Retrievers have lost four straight and have not hit a home run in the last six games.

Stony Brook struck first in game one, scoring twice in the top of the first. After loading the bases on a single and two walks, catcher Marissa Fleury singled to left to drive in two runs for the 2-0 lead.

The Retrievers tied it up in the bottom of the third on left fielder Reilly Ward’s two-run double with one out, but the Seawolves got both runs back the next inning on a two-run error to take the 4-2 lead and held on for the eventual victory.

UMBC starter Lauren Nicholson (16-2) suffered only her second loss of the season as she allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits and six walks while striking out seven in the complete game. Sarah Hoffman picked up the complete game victory for Stony Brook after allowing two runs on just three hits and four walks while striking out three.

The Seawolves again scored twice in the top of the first in game two, as center fielder Suzanne Turek walked with the bases loaded and designated player Sarah Cerrone hit a two-out RBI single through the left side.

But UMBC starter Krista Kearns struck out third baseman Kelly Oberto to end the inning and retired 11 batters in a row until allowing back-to-back solo home runs to left fielder Kelsi Fanelli and right fielder Ashley Westphal with one out in the top of the fifth. After retiring the next batter, Kearns gave up a single and a walk before second baseman Molly Kestranek hit a three-run shot over the center field fence to give Stony Brook a 7-0 lead.

The Retrievers scored twice in the bottom of the inning. Third baseman Melanie Denischuk led off with a single and center fielder Kali Shirk reached on an error. Both runners came home on a two-out single by catcher Jessica Griffith to pull to within five runs at 7-2, but the Seawolves held them there.

Kearns (12-6) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three in 4.2 innings of work. Senior Amy Sadowl pitched the final 2.1 innings and blanked the Seawolves on three hits and a walk while striking out two. Stony Brook starter Angela Andrews earned the victory after allowing two unearned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out one in the complete game.

The two teams meet again Sunday for the series finale beginning at 1 p.m. at UMBC Softball Stadium. Before the game, the Retrievers will honor seniors Nicholson, Sadowl, Griffith, Ashlea Underwood and Jessica Keenan, who will be playing in their final home game.