UMBC

Jessica Vetock had four hits and four RBI against Bucknell.

LEWISBURG, Pa.—UMBC hurler Stephanie Weigman (Elkridge, Md./Archbishop Spalding) picked up two wins and struck out 19, and shortstop Jessica Vetock (Pasadena, Md./Institute of Notre Dame/CCBC-Catonsville) collected four hits and drove in four runs to lead the UMBC softball team (27-16) to a doubleheader sweep of Bucknell (13-27) Tuesday afternoon at Bucknell Softball Field. The Retrievers won the first game, 9-1, in six innings, then took the nightcap, 6-3.

Game 1: UMBC 9, Bucknell 1 (6 innings)

Vetock got the scoring started in the second with a two-run single, but the big hit in the game was a three-run inside-the-park home run by catcher Amanda Page (Batavia, N.Y./Batavia/Monroe CC) as part of a four-run third inning, putting the Retrievers on top, 6-0.

The Bison got one back in the bottom of the inning on a bases loaded walk, but the Retrievers scored twice more in the top of the fourth on an RBI triple by left fielder Malorie Weller (Round Hill, Va./Loudoun Valley/Kennesaw State) and an RBI groundout by second baseman Lauren O’Malley (Pasadena, Md./Archbishop Spalding). UMBC scored the winning run in the sixth on a passed ball.

Weigman (16-11) struck out 11 – one shy of her career high – and allowed just one unearned run on two hits and two walks. Jane Messersmith (5-10) suffered the loss after giving up nine runs (six earned) on nine hits and three walks while striking out seven.

Vetock went 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored to pace the Retrievers at the plate.

Game 2: UMBC 6, Bucknell 3

Center fielder Julia Culotta (Street, Md./North Harford/Tennessee) drove in the first run of the game with a first-inning single, but Bucknell tied it up in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff homer by center fielder Ashley Beans.

Pinch hitter Angela Yannone (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) gave the Retrievers the lead for good with a one-out RBI single in the third inning, but the difference in the game was a four-run fifth. Third baseman Krista Kearns (Santa Fe Springs, Calif./Santa Fe) drove in the first run with a double, and after a pair of walks loaded the bases, Vetock plated two with a single. Weller then made it 6-1 with a two-out double.

The Bison scored single runs in the fifth and seventh, with a solo homer by third baseman Alison Ford accounting for the last run of the game.

Weigman (17-11) picked up her second victory of the day after entering the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the second inning. She struck out eight, including the first batter she faced to escape the jam. Weigman allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks.

Katie McDonald (7-9) took the loss for Bucknell after giving up five runs on six hits and seven walks in 4.1 innings of work. Liz Fanning pitching the final 2.2 innings for the Bison and allowed one run on five hits.

Four Retrievers collected two hits apiece, including Weller, Culotta and Kearns, who each had RBI doubles and scored a run.

The Retrievers return to action on Thursday, April 16, when they take on regional rival Georgetown in Washington, D.C.