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News Release
RETRIEVERS OUSTED FROM NCAA REGIONAL SOFTBALL AFTER WINNING UMBC'S FIRST DIVISION I NCAA TOUNAMENT GAME
5/16/2002
UMBC's run in softball came to an end on Friday after, as Eastern Kentucky scored all six runs with two outs and defeated UMBC, 6-1, in an elimination game in Columbia, SC. The Retriever softball accomplished a feat that many other UMBC teams have nearly reached, but not accomplished in the last several years. They won an NCAA Division I tournament contest. After a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to #25-ranked Georgia, UMBC scored four runs in the second inning en route to a 7-1 win over Liberty in the loser's bracket game this evening in Columbia, SC.UMBC (47-21) could only muster four safeties, two each by Bonnie Nevin and Kristie Pickeral, as EKU took control with three first inning runs en route to the 6-1 win. Pickeral prevented the shutout by hitting her 10th home run of the season in the sixth inning. Linsi Moy, who was brilliant in the opener vs. Georgia, allowed nine hits and four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings and suffered the loss. Against Liberty on Thursday night, after Jessica Graziano singled in Deanna Vecchio in the bottom of the first, UMBC broke the game open in the second frame. Abbie Kahn and Vecchio drove in runs, while two others scored on an illegal pitch and a Flames' error. Bonnie Nevin added an RBI double in the fifth inning, and Lisa Boone hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to complete the UMBC scoring. Angie Amedro (18-8), who was credited with the win, and Kristin Dulay scattered nine Flame hits in the game. Despite not getting a hit, Vecchio scored three times, while second baseman Christy Sheppard went 2-for-2 with a run scored. The Retriever softball team opened NCAA Tournament regional play by dropping a tough 2-1 decision to the 25th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in Columbia, South Carolina.UMBC jumped out right off the bat, as a Deanna Vecchio walk, and consecutive singles by Lisa Boone and Kristie Pickeral plated Vecchio with no one out. Both players advanced via a Bonnie Nevin sacrifice, but UMBC could not push any more runs across. Georgia would tie the game in the bottom of the inning on an unearned run, but UMBC senior hurler Linsi Moy shut the door over the next four innings, allowing just one hit in that span. UMBC had a golden chance in the fifth as Vecchio led off the frame with a booming triple. But UGA pitcher Lacey Gardner struck out Boone, and Nevin, around walks to Pickeral and Jess Graziano. With two outs and the bases loaded, Alexis Viera's scorched line drive was snared by Bulldog second baseman Katie Lewis. Georgia pushed the go-ahead run across in the sixth on an RBI ground-out by Kristin Bell, and Vecchio, Boone, and Pickeral went down in order in the seventh. UMBC outhit UGA, 6-3, and left eight runners on base. Moy was the hard-luck loser, allowing just 3 hits, 2 walks and 1 earned run in six innings.