UMBC

Kali Shirk hit two home runs in the second game against Albany.

Baltimore-Center fielder Kali Shirk went 5-for-7 with two home runs and four RBI to lead the UMBC softball team (18-8, 3-2 America East) to two wins over defending America East champion Albany (16-10, 1-4 America East) Sunday afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium. The Retrievers took the first game by a score of 6-1 and won game two, 14-8. The games were originally scheduled to be played at Albany, but the weather forced the relocation to Baltimore.

The Retrievers’ only previous win against the Great Danes came last season in the first game of the series.

UMBC scored once in the top of the first on a wild pitch, then added two in the fourth. Second baseman Michelle Connors hit a solo home run in the sixth to put Albany on the board for the first time, but the Retrievers scored three times in the top of the seventh for the 6-1 victory.

Shirk and first baseman Melanie Denischuk led off the seventh with back-to-back doubles, and designated player Amanda Fefel hit a two-run homer before an out was recorded.

Junior Ashley Gray (5-4) earned the victory for the Retrievers, as she allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven in six innings. Fefel pitched the final inning for UMBC and gave up a hit and a walk and struck out a batter.

Reigning America East Pitcher of the Year Casey Halloran suffered the loss for the Great Danes after allowing six runs (five earned) on 13 hits and two walks while striking out three in the complete game.

Shirk was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in the game, while second baseman Dana Shepherd and catcher Krissy Licursi had two hits apiece.

UMBC took a 4-0 lead after two innings in the second game, capitalizing on three Albany errors and a solo homer by Licursi. But the Great Danes scored five times in the bottom of the third, using four walks, an error and a Connors home run to take a 5-4 lead.

Shirk tied the game with a two-out solo homer in the top of the fifth, but the Great Danes hit three solo shots of their own to regain the lead at 8-5.

The Retrievers again tied the game an inning later, as Fefel and shortstop Reilly Ward led off with back-to-back walks and Licursi drove them both home with a double down the left field line. Krista Kearns, who came on in relief in the fifth and surrendered the third Albany home run of the inning, then drove in the tying run with a double down the left field line.

The score remained tied at 8-8 until the top of the seventh, when UMBC exploded for six runs, all with two outs. The rally began when Gray reached on an error. Licursi then singled and Kearns drove in the winning run with her second double of the game. But the Retrievers were not done, as left fielder Kristi Troster followed with a two-run single. Shepherd then singled to right before Shirk hit her second home run of the game, a three-run shot to center.

UMBC held on in the bottom of the seventh as a walk, a hit batter and a passed ball led to an unearned run off Gray, the fourth pitcher of the game.

“I’m really proud of the team,” head coach Joe French said. “They showed a lot of heart today.”

UMBC’s third pitcher of the game, Kearns (4-3) picked up the win after allowing a run on two hits and striking out six in three innings. Albany’s third pitcher of the game, Marissa Powell, suffered the loss, as she gave up six unearned runs on five hits in two innings.

Licursi went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI in the game, while Shepherd, Shirk and Kearns had two hits apiece. Connors led the Great Danes at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI.

The Retrievers go for the sweep Monday at 12 p.m. at UMBC Softball Stadium.