UMBC

Ashley Gray pitched six strong innings in a 1-0 loss to Cleveland State.

GREENSBORO, N.C.—The UMBC softball team kicked off its 2008 season Saturday morning at the UNC-Greensboro Spartan Classic but dropped both games on the day. The Retrievers lost a heartbreaker, 1-0, in the opener against Cleveland State, then fell to Central Michigan, 8-5.

Senior Ashley Gray pitched six strong innings in the first game, allowing just one unearned run on three hits and a walk while striking out five. But her offense did not give her any support, as the batters managed just three singles and two walks.

The Retrievers threatened in the third and fifth innings, both times getting two runners on base. The fifth proved to be UMBC’s best chance to score, as third baseman Emily Thompson singled and left fielder Lynn Pronobis was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with no outs, but the next three batters went down in order to end the threat.

The Vikings got on the board in the bottom of the inning, when with two outs, center fielder Jessica Burt reached on a three-base error and scored on a single by left fielder Whitney Willard.

Thompson picked up two of UMBC’s three hits in the game, while pinch hitter Krista Kearns had the other.

Cleveland State pitcher Ashley Macenko went the distance in the victory and struck out 12 Retrievers.

The Retrievers took an early 3-0 lead in the second game of the day. Shortstop Dana Shepherd and catcher Kali Shirk led off the game with back-to-back walks. First baseman Amanda Fefel hit a one-out single to drive in Shepherd, and center fielder Julia Culotta drove in Shirk with a fielder’s choice. Fefel later came around to score on a single by Thompson.

But a seven-run third for Central Michigan doomed UMBC and freshman pitcher Stephanie Weigman. With two outs and a run already in, six straight Chippewas reached base, with the big blow coming on a grand slam by pinch hitter Amanda Klosterman.

Fefel relieved Weigman to start the fourth and surrendered a leadoff homer to left fielder Suzie Giroux but only allowed one more hit the rest of the way.

The Retrievers got two runs back in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI groundout by Gray and a run-scoring triple by Fefel.

Weigman allowed seven runs on four hits and five walks while striking out two in the loss. Fefel pitched four strong innings in relief, giving up just one run on two hits and a walk while striking out four.

Ali Pettit picked up the victory for Central Michigan after allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out three in five innings. Kim Campbell pitched the final two frames and gave up two runs on three hits with one strikeout.

Fefel and second baseman Lauren Brummell each had two hits in the game for the Retrievers, while Shirk went 1-for-3 with two runs scored.

The Retrievers take on host UNC-Greensboro Sunday at 2:30 p.m., then face James Madison at 4:30 in the conclusion of the UNCG Spartan Classic.