UMBC

Melanie Denischuk hit her second home run in as many days for UMBC.

Baltimore-The UMBC softball team (11-6) won two more games Sunday afternoon to take the UMBC Spring Classic title. The Retrievers knocked off Cleveland State, 6-2, and Holy Cross, 9-4, in five innings.

The Retrievers jumped on Cleveland State early, as second baseman Dana Shepherd led off the game with a double, which was followed by back-to-back home runs by first baseman Melanie Denischuk and pitcher Amanda Fefel, giving UMBC a 3-0 lead before recording an out.

After going down in order in the first two innings, the Vikings got a run back in the third on a leadoff single by center fielder Michele Penney and a two-out single by left fielder Whitney Willard, but Fefel escaped a jam by getting second baseman Amanda Houchin looking.

The Retrievers sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning, as each of the first three batters singled. A double play wiped out Shepherd at the plate, but with runners on second and third, shortstop Riley Ward singled up the middle to drive them both in. After designated player Ashley Gray walked, Ward scored on a single by left fielder Lauren O’Malley, giving UMBC a 6-1 lead.

Cleveland State notched its second run of the game in the top of the fifth when Houchin reached on an error, scoring right fielder Danielle Young, who had singled with one out.

Fefel (4-1) picked up the win for the Retrievers after allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out four in five innings of work. Gray relieved Fefel in the sixth and pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and one hit.

Amanda Macenko suffered the loss for the Vikings after giving up six runs on eight hits and a walk in three innings. Christina Swierz pitched three scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out two.

Fefel also helped her own cause at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run. Shepherd and Denischuk also had two hits for UMBC, as the top third of the order was a combined 7-for-9 with three runs and three RBI.

Young led the Vikings with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

The Retrievers scored seven runs in the second inning against Holy Cross, a game which was halted after five innings due to darkness.

After going down in order in the first, the Retrievers sent 12 batters to the plate in the second, scoring seven runs on five hits, two walks, an error and a hit batter. Gray led off the inning with a double, then scored after a single by Ward and back-to-back walks. Left fielder Ashleigh Robinson then singled over the shortstop’s head and center fielder Kristi Troster reached on an error, with runs scoring on both plays. With one out and the bases still loaded, Denischuk was hit by a pitch to bring Robinson home. An out later, Gray picked up her second hit of the inning, a two-run single to left-center. After a passed ball advanced the runners, Ward also singled for the second time in the frame, plating UMBC’s seventh run.

The Crusaders batted around in the fourth, scoring four runs on three hits and chasing UMBC starter Jessica Taylor. But Krista Kearns came on in relief and escaped a bases loaded jam despite allowing an inherited runner to score.

Ahead 7-4, the Retrievers scored twice more in the bottom of the inning, as Denischuk singled and Gray smashed a home run to right-center field. Despite an error in the top of the fifth, Kearns induced a double play with a strikeout and a runner caught stealing to end the game and preserve UMBC’s 9-4 victory.

Taylor allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out five in 3.2 innings of work. Kearns (3-2) picked up the victory in relief with 1.1 hitless innings, allowing just one walk.

Melissa Pivonka suffered the loss for Holy Cross, giving up nine runs (six earned) on nine hits and three walks in four innings.

Gray led the Retrievers at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, a homer, two runs scored and three RBI. Ward and Robinson also had two hits apiece.

Center fielder Jayme Elliott was the only Crusader with two hits, while right fielder Mallory Centonze had two RBI.

In the day’s other games, Cleveland State defeated Holy Cross, 5-2; Niagara outlasted Sacred Heart, 6-5, in nine innings; and Holy Cross beat Sacred Heart, 6-2.

After rain washed out Saturday’s games, bracket play was canceled, so the tournament winner was determined by best record in pool play. Thus, the Retrievers won the UMBC Spring Classic with a 4-0 record, with Cleveland State placing second at 3-1. Niagara and Holy Cross both finished 1-2, but the Purple Eagles held the edge based on runs allowed. Sacred Heart placed fifth at 0-4.

The Retrievers return to action on Tuesday, March 27, when they head to Washington, D.C. to take on Howard in a doubleheader.

Friday, March 23

Game 1: Cleveland State 7, Sacred Heart 1

Game 2: Cleveland State 3, Niagara 1

Game 3: UMBC 10, Sacred Heart 1 (5 innings)

Game 4: UMBC 6, Niagara 1

Sunday, March 25

Game 1: Cleveland State 5, Holy Cross 2

Game 2: Niagara 6, Sacred Heart 5 (9 innings)

Game 3: UMBC 6, Cleveland State 2

Game 4: Holy Cross 6, Sacred Heart 2

Game 5: UMBC 9, Holy Cross 4 (5 innings, darkness)

UMBC Spring Classic Standings

1. UMBC (4-0)

2. Cleveland State (3-1)

3. Niagara (1-2)*

4. Holy Cross (1-2)*

5. Sacred Heart (0-4)

*Niagara edges Holy Cross based on runs allowed. Niagara allowed 14 runs in the tournament, while Holy Cross allowed 16.