UMBC

Ashley Gray pitched a shutout and hit a home run in the first game against Stony Brook.

Stony Brook, N.Y.-The UMBC softball team (28-14, 11-6 America East) swept a doubleheader from host Stony Brook (26-16, 10-6 America East) Saturday afternoon at University Field by scores of 5-0 and 6-3. The wins move the Retrievers past the Seawolves and into second place in the America East Conference standings with four games remaining in the season.

UMBC junior Ashley Gray went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored and also pitched a five-hit shutout to lead the Retrievers to the game one victory.

The Retrievers scored three runs in the top of the first inning on an RBI double by second baseman Dana Shepherd, an RBI single by Gray and a sacrifice fly by right fielder Krista Kearns.

Shepherd drove in UMBC’s fourth run of the game in the second with an RBI single, and Gray hit a solo shot in the fifth for the 5-0 win.

Gray (11-6) struck out six and walked two in the complete game victory. Sarah Hoffman suffered the loss after allowing five runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out three.

Shepherd went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while center fielder Kali Shirk scored twice and stole three bases. Stony Brook left fielder Ashley Westphal was the only Seawolf with two hits.

The Retrievers scored four times in the top of the second of game two, with all of the production coming with two outs. Shepherd walked with the bases loaded to force in a run, designated player Melanie Denischuk drove in two with a single and first baseman Amanda Fefel drew another bases loaded walk.

Denischuk homered in the fourth to give UMBC a 5-0 lead, but the Seawolves scored three times in the bottom of the inning to chase Gray. Shepherd hit the Retrievers’ third home run of the afternoon in the fifth for the 6-3 final score.

Fefel (11-3) picked up the victory after allowing just two hits and striking out four in 3.1 scoreless innings of relief. Gray started the game and gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk and struck out two in 3.2 innings of work.

Alyssa Struzenberg (6-5) suffered the loss for Stony Brook after allowing five runs on five hits and eight walks over 3.2 innings of work. Christina Voth pitched the final 3.1 innings giving up one run on one hit and one walk.

Shepherd and Denischuk each went 2-for-3 to pace the Retrievers at the plate. Denischuk drove in three runs, while Shepherd posted two RBI and also scored twice.

Westphal and third baseman Kelly Oberto picked up two hits apiece for the Seawolves.

The teams meet again Sunday for the third game of the series at 12 p.m.