UMBC

Kali Shirk went 2-for-3 with a home run and also stole a base against Binghamton.

BALTIMORE—Playing at UMBC Softball Stadium for the final time this season, the Retrievers (19-24, 8-7 AEC) blanked America East rival Binghamton (6-30, 1-14 AEC) by a score of 5-0 Wednesday afternoon.

Freshman hurler Stephanie Weigman (11-12) tossed her second career shutout, blanking the Bearcats on three hits and three walks while striking out eight batters, one shy of her career high.

The Retrievers got on the board in the first inning on an RBI single by third baseman Amanda Fefel that scored second baseman Dana Shepherd. Then in the third, catcher Kali Shirk, who collected her 200th career hit in the first inning with an infield single, smashed a solo home run to left field to give UMBC a 2-0 lead.

The two-run advantage was all Weigman would need, as she escaped a two-on, one-out jam with an unconventional double play in the first, then mowed down 10 of the next 11 batters she faced with five strikeouts, including three in the third inning.

The Retrievers broke out for three runs in the fifth, as the first five batters reached base. Shirk walked to lead off the inning, stole second and scored on an RBI double by first baseman Ashley Gray. Designated player Alison Duff then singled up the middle and right fielder Julia Culotta reached on an error to load the bases for left fielder Lauren Brummell, who walked to drive in Gray with the second run of the inning. After Duff was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice, Culotta scored on a wild pitch to give UMBC the 5-0 lead.

The Bearcats mounted a threat in the top of the seventh, as third baseman Meghan Quinn hit a leadoff single and catcher Deannie Plemon walked with one out. A fielder’s choice put runners on first and third, but Weigman induced pinch hitter Shawna Albright to fly out to center field to end the game.

Binghamton pitcher Patty Egan (1-11) was up and down in the loss. She allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out two batters, but she retired the side in order twice and faced just four batters in the fourth.

Shirk was the only Retriever with multiple hits, as she went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and she became just the seventh player in UMBC history with 200 hits in her career, joining Shepherd on the exclusive list. Shirk, Gray and Fefel combined to get four of UMBC’s five hits and drive in three runs.

The Retrievers return to action this weekend when they head to Vermont for a three-game conference series beginning with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.