UMBC

Kali Shirk hit her second home run of the season against Boston University on Saturday.

BALTIMORE—Playing its final home weekend series of the season, the UMBC softball team (18-23, 7-6 AEC) dropped both ends of a doubleheader to America East rival Boston University (25-15, 11-2 AEC) Saturday afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium. The Terriers won the first game, 7-1, then took the nightcap, 11-7.

Game 1: Boston University 7, UMBC 1

Each team scored a run in the first before BU took control of the game with five runs in the next three innings.

Boston center fielder April Setterlund reached on an error to start the game and eventually came around to score on an infield single by first baseman Rachel Hebert. The Terriers threatened for more but left the bases loaded when third baseman Brooke Hudson struck out and right fielder Nora Militz flied out.

UMBC senior catcher Kali Shirk hit her second home run of the season with one out in the bottom of the first to tie the score.

The Terriers got two runs each in the second and third innings. Left fielder Shayne Lotito hit a two-run homer in the second that broke the 1-1 tie, and designated player Tyler Benson hit a two-out two-run single up the middle in the third that chased UMBC starting pitcher Amanda Fefel. BU added a single run in the fifth on a squeeze bunt by shortstop Melissa Dubay that plated Lotito and gave the Terriers a 6-1 lead.

Boston U. got its seventh run in the top of the seventh when Hebert led off with a single up the middle and eventually scored on a grounder by pinch runner Molly Gallagher.

Cassidi Hardy (11-5) was dominating in the complete game win for Boston, allowing just one run on two hits and three walks while striking out seven batters. After allowing Shirk’s home run in the first, she retired 11 of the next 13 batters.

Fefel (4-5) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks in 2.2 innings of work. Senior Ashley Gray pitched the final gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in the final 4.1 innings, striking out four.

Gray and senior second baseman Dana Shepherd both saw lengthy hitting streaks come to an end, as neither recorded a hit, snapping a 15- and 14-game streak, respectively.

Lotito led the Terriers at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort, two runs scored and two RBI.

Game 2: Boston University 11, UMBC 7

The Terriers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on three hits, a walk and an error, then added two more in the third, both with two outs.

UMBC left fielder Lauren Brummell put the Retrievers on the board for the first time with a two-run single in the bottom of the inning, and UMBC added single runs in the fourth and fifth on an RBI single by Shepherd and a solo homer by Gray that cut Boston’s lead to 5-4.

But a six-run sixth inning blew the game wide open, as the Terriers jumped out to an 11-4 advantage. BU got six hits in the frame and sent nine batters to the plate, with the big blows coming on a pair of two-run singles by Benson and second baseman Melanie Delgado.

The Retrievers got three back in the bottom of the inning, all with two outs, on five straight singles. Pinch hitter Randi Willey started the rally with her first hit of the season, and Shepherd, Shirk, Gray and Fefel all joined the hit parade, with Gray driving in one run and Fefel plating two, which trimmed UMBC’s deficit to 11-7. But the Retrievers could get no closer, going down in order in the seventh to end the game.

Boston starter Megan Currier (8-6) picked up the victory despite allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in four innings. Kelly Engman closed it out, allowing three runs on five hits over the final three innings.

UMBC freshman Stephanie Weigman (10-12) suffered the loss after surrendering 10 runs (seven earned) on nine hits and six walks, but she struck out a career-high nine batters. Gray pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Retrievers and gave up one run on two hits.

Shepherd, Shirk and Gray each had two hits, as the top three batters in UMBC’s lineup combined to go 6-for-11 with five runs scored. Gray, Fefel and Brummell had two RBI apiece.

Hudson paced the Terriers’ offense with a 3-for-4 effort, while Setterlund, Hebert and Delgado had two hits each. Hebert also scored three times and drove in two runs, while Delgado posted three RBI.

The teams meet again in the series finale Sunday at 12 p.m. at UMBC Softball Stadium. Before the game, the Retrievers will honor seniors Gray, Shepherd, Shirk and Carla O’Rourke in a Senior Day ceremony.