UMBC

Amanda Fefel's grand slam was her fifth home run of the week.

BALTIMORE—Senior third baseman Amanda Fefel (Baltimore, Md./Catonsville) blasted a grand slam during the Retrievers’ five-run second inning, but Stony Brook scored twice in the top of the seventh to take the series finale, 6-5, Sunday afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium.

The Seawovles (13-8, 3-0 AE) got on the board in the first when shortstop Vicki Kavitsky led off with a single, stole second and scored on center fielder Brijette Martin’s double to left. Stony Brook threatened for more, but UMBC junior hurler Stephanie Weigman (Elkridge, Md./Archbishop Spalding) escaped a bases loaded jam by striking out the side.

The Retrievers (15-10, 0-3 AE) loaded the bases in the second and tied the score when senior shortstop Jessica Vetock (Pasadena, Md./Institute of Notre Dame/CCBC-Catonsville) hit a slow roller back to the pitcher, which Stony Brook starter Alyssa Struzenberg fielded and threw home to get the force at the plate, but junior designated player Lauren O’Malley (Pasadena, Md./Archbishop Spalding) beat the throw. Fefel followed with a rocket to straight-away center field for her fifth home run of the week and team-best seventh of the season to give UMBC its first lead of the series, 5-1.

Stony Brook answered right back with three runs in the top of the third to make it 5-4, but neither team scored again until the seventh, when reliever Casey Jacobs led off with a single, and the Retrievers could not make a play on first baseman Kendall Blumenthal’s bunt, putting runners on first and second with no outs. The runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and catcher Jade Clare tied it with a sacrifice fly before pinch hitter Taylor Chain roped the first pitch she saw through the left side to drive in the go-ahead run.

Jacobs (2-1) earned the victory after pitching two perfect innings in relief. Struzenberg allowed five runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out five in the first five innings. UMBC freshman Heather Brown (Pasadena, Md./Northeast) suffered the tough-luck loss to fall to 6-3 on the season. She retired the first nine batters she faced before surrendering the tying and winning runs in the seventh. Weigman allowed four runs on five hits and five walks while striking out five in the first three frames.

The Retrievers return to action on Tuesday, March 30, when they host Morgan State.

Note: The grand slam was Fefel’s 37th career home run, leaving her three shy of Kristie Pickeral’s school record.