UMBC

Ashley Gray has not allowed a run in 14 consecutive innings.

Baltimore-UMBC right fielder Krista Kearns continued her torrid hitting, and starting pitcher Ashley Gray threw another gem to lead the Retrievers (22-8, 7-2 America East) past America East rival Vermont (9-20, 2-7 America East) by a score of 6-0 Friday afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium. The Retrievers extended their winning streak to eight in a row, including six straight in the conference, and have not allowed a run in 17 consecutive innings with their third straight shutout.

Kearns went 3-for-3 with a three-run home run, and she has gotten a hit in nine of her last 10 at-bats spanning her last four games. She has posted three doubles, three homers, eight RBI and four runs scored during that stretch.

Gray (8-4) was again brilliant on the mound, throwing a two-hit complete game shutout, walking none and striking out four in seven innings. She has not allowed a run in 14 consecutive innings.

Kearns’ home run, a three-run shot, came with two outs in the second inning to give the Retrievers a 3-0 lead. First baseman Amanda Fefel smashed her team-leading ninth homer leading off the fourth for a 4-0 advantage.

Then in the fifth, designated player Melanie Denischuk hit a two-out, two-run double to shallow left field for the 6-0 win.

Aimee Kern suffered the loss for Vermont, allowing six runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out six in six innings.

The Retrievers and Catamounts meet again Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. at UMBC Softball Stadium.