UMBC

Kali Shirk was 3-for-6 with two doubles, a homer, six RBI and three runs scored against Binghamton.

VESTAL, N.Y.—The UMBC softball team (17-19, 6-2 AEC) pounded out 26 hits, with nine going for extra bases, in a doubleheader sweep of America East rival Binghamton (4-21, 0-6 AEC) Wednesday afternoon at East Gym Field. The Retrievers won the first game, 14-3, in five innings, then took game two, 6-1. At 6-2 in conference play, UMBC ties its best-ever America East start.

Game 1: UMBC 14, Binghamton 3 (5 innings)

The Retrievers used a season-high 17 hits to win the first game, 14-3, in five innings. UMBC scored eight runs on 10 hits in the first two innings alone.

The Retrievers started the game with seven consecutive hits, including RBI singles by pitcher Ashley Gray and third baseman Emily Thompson, an RBI double by first baseman Amanda Fefel and a two-run double by catcher Kali Shirk.

Center fielder Lauren Brummell led off the second with a double and came around to score on a one-out RBI single by Fefel. Binghamton pitcher Nicole Constantatos then walked three straight batters, the third forcing in the seventh run of the game, and the eighth scored on an RBI groundout by designated player Alison Duff.

The Bearcats got all three of their runs in the third inning on an RBI single by shortstop Shannon McLeese and a two-run home run by catcher Deannie Plemon that cut UMBC’s lead to 8-3.

But the Retrievers scored once in the fourth on an RBI single by second baseman Dana Shepherd, then put together a five-run fifth with five hits. Three straight singles to start the inning loaded the bases for Shirk, who picked a clutch time to hit her first home run of the season, as her grand slam chased Constantatos from the game. But reliever Meghan Quinn surrendered a home run to the first batter she faced in Thompson, whose first round-tripper of the season cleared the fence in right-center field and gave the Retrievers their 14th run.

Gray allowed three runs on six hits and struck out seven while not walking a batter in the victory. Constantatos suffered the loss and was charged with 13 runs (11 earned) on 16 hits and five walks in four innings, while Quinn allowed one run on one hit in the fifth.

Eight of UMBC’s nine starters collected a base hit in the game, while the top six batters in the Retrievers’ lineup combined to go 15-for-21 with 13 runs scored and 12 RBI. Shirk with 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, six RBI and three runs scored, while Brummell, Gray and Fefel had three hits apiece and combined to score eight runs. Shepherd and Thompson each had two hits, as well.

No Bearcat had multiple hits, and the first six batters in Binghamton’s lineup accounted for all six hits.

Game 2: UMBC 6, Binghamton 1

UMBC freshman Stephanie Weigman pitched a gem in the nightcap, allowing one run on three hits while striking out seven in the complete game victory.

With runners on first and third and two outs in the top of the second, Duff gave the Retrievers a 2-0 lead with her first triple of the season, and UMBC piled on four more runs in the fifth on a pair of two-run home runs by Shepherd and Fefel.

Binghamton’s only run came in the sixth on a leadoff homer by second baseman Bri Andrews.

Jessica Whitaker suffered the loss for Binghamton after allowing five runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of work. Patty Egan relieved Whitaker and was charged with one run on two hits and a walk in the final 2.1 innings. Both pitchers struck out two batters apiece.

Fefel led the Retrievers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Shortstop Jessica Vetock also had two hits for UMBC. Andrews accounted for two of Binghamton’s three hits in the game.

The Retrievers return to action this weekend, when they host America East rival Stony Brook in a three-game series beginning Saturday at 1 p.m. at UMBC Softball Stadium.