UMBC

Emily Thompson went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles against Maine on Sunday.

BALTIMORE—The UMBC softball team (20-11, 2-1 AEC) won its first America East Conference series of the season by sweeping a doubleheader from Maine (21-14, 1-2 AEC) Sunday afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium. The Black Bears took the series opener on Saturday, but the Retrievers bounced back for a pair of wins Sunday, 7-4 and 5-0.

Game 1: UMBC 7, Maine 4

Second baseman Lauren Brummell (Hanover, Va./Hanover) led off the game with a home run, but the Retrievers broke it open an inning later with a six-run second.

Third baseman Krista Kearns (Santa Fe Springs, Calif./Santa Fe) started the inning with a double and scored on a single by designated player Kaela Mason (Bel Air, Md./Harford Tech). UMBC then loaded the bases with two outs before first baseman Lauren O'Malley (Pasadena, Md./Archbishop Spalding) reached on an error to plate a run and keep the inning alive for pitcher Amanda Fefel (Baltimore, Md./Catonsville), who crushed a grand slam over the left-field fence for a 7-0 lead.

Fefel’s shot chased Maine starter Jenna Balent, and reliever Ashley Kelley was able to shut the Retrievers down over the final four innings.

The Black Bears, meanwhile, clawed their way back into the game with a three-run homer by first baseman Courtney Gingrich in the fourth and a triple by second baseman Ashley Waters in the fifth to cut it to 7-4.

But sophomore Stephanie Weigman (Elkridge, Md./Archbishop Spalding) relieved Fefel with one out in the fifth and retired eight of the final 11 batters of the game to preserve the victory and earn her second career save.

Fefel (7-2) picked up the win after allowing four runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of work. Balent (4-3) gave up seven runs (two earned) on six hits in 1.2 innings in the loss, while Kelley pitched 4.1 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just three hits and a walk.

Brummell and right fielder Emily Thompson (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) each picked up two hits to pace the Retrievers’ offense. Maine left fielder Kali Burnham was the only Black Bear with two hits in the game.

Game 2: UMBC 5, Maine 0

All four of the Retrievers’ hits in the nightcap came in a four-run second inning, and all four runs scored with two outs, as Thompson hit a two-run double, and shortstop Jessica Vetock (Pasadena, Md./Institute of Notre Dame/CCBC-Catonsville) and Brummell each had RBI singles.

UMBC added an insurance run in the fourth without the benefit of a hit, using two hit-batters, a walk and a sacrifice fly.

Weigman (12-8) pitched her second complete-game shutout of the season, striking out nine and allowing just four hits.

Alexis Souhlaris (6-4) suffered the loss after surrendering four runs on four hits in two innings. Cayleigh Montano pitched the next 3.1 innings and gave up one run on five walks but did not allow a hit, while Kelley retired the final two Retriever batters in the sixth.

The Retrievers return to action on Thursday, April 2, when they host cross-town rival Morgan State in a doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.