UMBC

Jessica Taylor allowed just two hits and struck out five in six innings.

Baltimore-The UMBC softball team (26-10) swept Delaware (14-18-2) in a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium behind two strong starting pitching performances. The Retrievers won by scores of 5-1 and 4-3, and the game two victory was the 500th ever in the history of the program.

The Retrievers struck first in the second inning of game one on an RBI double off the bat of reigning America East co-Player of the Week Krista Kearns.

But the Blue Hens tied the game in the fourth on a one-out home run by shortstop Kim Ovitorre. The run was the first scored off starting pitcher Ashley Gray in more than 24 innings.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the sixth when catcher Krissy Licursi singled home Ashleigh Robinson, who was pinch running for designated player Melanie Denischuk, who had reached on a fielder’s choice. Gray then helped her own cause, belting a three-run homer to right field to give the Retrievers a 5-1 lead.

Gray (10-4) pitched another gem, allowing just the one run and scattering five hits and a walk while striking out eight in the seven-inning complete game.

Michelle Kenney started the game for Delaware and gave up one run on four hits in four innings of work. Carolynn Sloat relieved her and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits in the final two innings.

Shortstop Reilly Ward was the only Retriever with two hits, while Ovitorre and catcher Quinn Megargel each had two base knocks for the Blue Hens.

The Retrievers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second game when second baseman Dana Shepherd led off the bottom of the first with a double and scored on a single by center fielder Kali Shirk.

UMBC added another in the fourth on an RBI single by left fielder Kristi Troster, which drove in Robinson, pinch running for Licursi, who had hit a leadoff single.

The Blue Hens got on the board in the top of the sixth on an RBI fielder’s choice by catcher Jessica Kozlowski. Delaware took a 3-2 lead in the seventh when pinch hitter Barb Traynor hit a two-out home run.

But the Retrievers got two runs in the bottom of the inning to win the game, 4-3. Licursi tied the game when she reached on an error by the first baseman, driving in pinch runner Carla O’Rourke. Gray then singled to plate reliever Amanda Fefel, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.

Jessica Taylor started the game for UMBC but got a no-decision despite allowing just two runs on two hits and striking out five in six innings of work. Fefel picked up the victory with an inning of relief.

Sloat again suffered the loss for Delaware after allowing two runs on three hits in three innings of relief. Samantha Shawn started the game and allowed two runs on six hits in 3.2 innings of work.

Gray led the Retrievers with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate.

The Retrievers return to action this weekend when they head north for an America East Conference showdown with Boston University. The teams are separated by just a half game for first in the league standings.