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News Release

Retrievers Tabbed Fourth in America East Preseason Softball Poll

2/11/2010

Three-time first-team all-conference selection Amanda Fefel

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—The UMBC softball team was predicted to finish fourth in the America East standings, according to a vote of the league’s head coaches, the conference announced today. Albany, the 2009 runner-up, is the preseason favorite, edging out Boston University and Stony Brook.

The Great Danes received three first-place votes and a total 32 points, just one ahead of the defending champion Terriers, who also garnered three top billings and finished with 31 points, while the Seawolves, the 2009 regular-season champion, was just one point back with 30, including the final first-place tally. The Retrievers received 19 points to finish fourth, while Maine was tabbed fifth with 15 points. Hartford (14) and Binghamton (6) rounded out the poll.

The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship, held at the top seed on May 13-15.

Seeking their fifth straight America East Championship berth, the Retrievers return all but one starter from a squad that went 34-21 overall and 12-8 in conference play, batting .285 as a team in 2009. UMBC is again led by senior Amanda Fefel (Baltimore, Md./Catonsville), a three-time first-team all-conference selection who batted .381 with 10 home runs and a league-best 44 RBI.

Junior second baseman Lauren Brummell (Hanover, Va./Hanover) earned second-team honors last season after batting .368 with a school-record 20 doubles, while junior Stephanie Weigman (Elkridge, Md./Archbishop Spalding) won 22 games and recorded a league-best 293 strikeouts, both school records.

UMBC opens the season on Feb. 19 at the USC Upstate Campus Suites Spartan Classic. The Retrievers’ first home game is March 2 against George Washington.

2010 America East Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Rank   Team (1st-Place Votes)      Points

1.         Albany (3)                             32

2.         Boston U. (3)                        31

3.         Stony Brook (1)                    30

4.         UMBC                                  19

5.         Maine                                    15

6.         Hartford                                14

7.         Binghamton                           6