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News Release

Softball Heads to Binghamton for America East Doubleheader Wednesday

4/8/2008


Ashley Gray allowed just one run on five hits with seven strikeouts in a complete game victory over Albany on Monday.

BALTIMORE—The UMBC softball team (15-19, 4-2 AEC) travels to Vestal, N.Y., on Wednesday to face America East rival Binghamton (4-19, 0-4) in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

 

Dawg Bites: There Retrievers went 1-2 in a three-game series against Albany on Sunday and Monday at UMBC. First baseman Ashley Gray (Pasadena, Md./Northeast/Delaware State) and second baseman Dana Shepherd (Columbia, Md./Oakland Mills) each hit solo home runs in the first game, but the Retrievers fell, 3-2. UMBC picked up a 6-1 victory in the second game behind stellar pitching by Gray, who allowed just one run on five hits and struck out seven without walking a batter in the complete game. The Retrievers dropped the series finale, 9-4, despite third baseman Amanda Fefel (Baltimore, Md./Catonsville) going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI.

 

On the Bearcats:  Binghamton has lost three straight and is looking for its first conference win of the season. The Bearcats are hitting just .192 as a team and have been outscored 145-66 through 23 games. Freshman catcher Deannie Plemon leads Binghamton with a .290 average, 26 total bases and 15 RBI, while junior outfielder Sandy Meadows is a perfect 10-for-10 on the base paths. Junior Cyrilla Suker ranks fourth in the America East in strikeouts (74) and seventh in ERA (2.58). The Bearcats were picked to finish eighth in the conference preseason poll.

 

UMBC vs. Binghamton All-Time: UMBC is 12-6 all-time against Binghamton dating to 2002 and has won five of the last seven meetings. Last season, the Retrievers swept a doubleheader at UMBC, shutting the Bearcats out over 10 innings, but Binghamton won the series finale, 8-7, in eight innings in Vestal.

 

Who’s Up Next: UMBC returns home this weekend to host Stony Brook in a three-game series that starts with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.

 

Streaking: Senior Ashley Gray is riding a 10-game hitting streak dating to March 26, during which time she is batting .464 (13-for-28) and slugging .893 with four home runs and 13 RBI. Senior Dana Shepherd is also riding a nine-game hitting streak dating to March 26, during which time she is batting .400 (12-for-30) and slugging .867 with six extra-base hits, seven RBI and 12 runs scored.

 

Milestone Watch: Senior second baseman Dana Shepherd became just the sixth player in UMBC history to record 200 career hits when she clubbed a double in the first inning against Niagara on March 21, and she currently ranks sixth all-time with 218 hits. Senior catcher Kali Shirk (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) is not far behind with 190 base knocks, tied with former teammate Reilly Ward for seventh-best all-time.

 

UMBC Career Hits

1)         K. Pickeral       263      2002-05

2)         D. Vecchio       258      1999-2002

3)         L. Boone          249      2000-03

4)         C. Lycett          237      1994-97

5)         A. Wolff           227      1994-97

6)         D. Shepherd   218      2005-Pres.

7)         R. Ward           190      2004-07

            K. Shirk          190      2005-Pres.

9)         T. McDonald    187      1996-99

10)       B. Nevin           164      1999-2002

 

Beasts in the America East: A number of Retrievers rank among the leaders in the America East. Ashley Gray leads the league with 28 RBI, while sophomore Amanda Fefel is second with 37 hits. Gray is also tied for first with six home runs and tied for eighth with 50 total bases. Fefel is tied for fourth with 54 total bases, and she ranks second with a .378 batting average and fifth with a .551 slugging percentage. Finally, senior catcher Kali Shirk is third in stolen bases with 12. 

 

On the pitching side, freshman Stephanie Weigman (Elkridge, Md./Archbishop Spalding) is third in the league with 87.1 innings pitched and 75 strikeouts and fifth with seven wins and a .224 opponent batting average. Fefel is tied for seventh with 61 strikeouts, ninth with 65 innings pitched and 10th with a 3.12 ERA.

 

Shepherd Named Candidate for Senior CLASS Award: UMBC senior second baseman Dana Shepherd has been named one of 30 candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, which honors the nation’s best softball seniors who also excel in the classroom and make an impact in their community. The award, presented to NCAA Division I student-athletes each year in eight sports, focuses on the “Four C’s” of classroom, character, community and competition. From the list of 30 nominees, a national media committee will select 10 finalists in late March. Those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote that will include coaches, media and fans. The award winner will be announced and recognized at the 2008 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Okalahoma City.

 

UMBC Picked Third in Preseason Poll: The UMBC softball team was predicted to finish third in the America East Preseason Coaches’ Poll.  The Retrievers received one first place vote and 35 overall points in a vote of the league’s head coaches. Boston University, the 2007 regular-season champion, is the preseason favorite, as the Terriers received 47 points, including five first-place votes. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.