UMBC

Amanda Fefel improved to 3-0 on the mound and drove in a run at the plate to lead the Retrievers past Niagara.

Baltimore-In a sloppy defensive game that included seven errors, the UMBC softball team (7-6) edged Niagara (3-8) by a score of 3-2 Wednesday afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium.

Freshman Amanda Fefel went the distance for the Retrievers to pick up the win, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks while striking out six. Fefel also helped her own cause at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

All of the scoring took place in the third inning. With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the frame, Niagara first baseman Tory Healy lined a single through the right side to bring home center fielder Jenna Baker, who walked to lead off the inning, and right fielder Kristen Kill, who reached on a one-out error by shortstop Reilly Ward.

But the Retrievers came back in the bottom half to take the lead. With runners on first and second and one out, Fefel singled to left and advanced to second on an error by left fielder Melissa Markle, plating second baseman Dana Shepherd, who hit a leadoff single, and Ward, who walked. After a pitching change, designated player Ashley Gray reached on an error by third baseman Jamie Constantz to score Fefel.

Shepherd and catcher Krissy Licursi each had two hits for UMBC, with Shepherd knocking her team-best fourth double of the season in the fourth.

Katie Gleiser suffered the loss for Niagara, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out three in 2.1 innings of work. Cassie Stone took over in the middle of the third and shut the Retrievers down on just two hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

The Retrievers return to action this weekend as they host the Fifth Annual UMBC Spring Classic. Click here for the tournament schedule.