UMBC

Amanda Fefel tied UMBC's career home run record with a two-run shot in the first inning.

ORONO, Maine—Three Retrievers collected three hits apiece and senior Amanda Fefel (Baltimore, Md./Catonsville) smashed the 40th home run of her career, but the UMBC softball team (22-21, 3-9 AE) lost to America East rival Maine (20-22, 9-3 AE) by a score of 8-7 in nine innings Sunday in the rubber match at Kessock Field.

As they had in the first two games of the series, the Retrievers got on the board in the first inning, as junior second baseman Lauren Brummell (Hanover, Va./Hanover) led off the game with an infield single and scored on Fefel’s blast to left field. The home run, Fefel’s 10th of the season, tied Kristie Pickeral’s school record for career round-trippers.

The Retrievers made it 4-0 in the second on Brummell’s two-out two-run single, and they added two more in the fourth on four hits, including an RBI double by junior center fielder Julia Culotta (Street, Md./North Harford/Tennessee) and a run-scoring infield single by Fefel.

But UMBC junior hurler Stephanie Weigman (Elkridge, Md./Archbishop Spalding), who had cruised through the first three innings, allowing just one base runner and striking out six in a row, ran into trouble in the fourth. After a walk and a base hit, third baseman Terren Hall homered to slice the Retrievers’ lead in half. The next two batters followed with a single and double to make it 6-4, and after a walk, another run scored on a passed ball, and designated player Meghan McLain chased Weigman with a game-tying double.

But the Retrievers answered right back to regain the lead in the top of the fifth on another RBI double by Culotta.

Fefel, who relieved Weigman, allowed just one base runner over the next two innings, and the Retrievers took the 7-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh. But with one out, three straight Black Bears singled, and a fielder’s choice by left fielder Kali Burnham drove in the tying run and sent the game to extra frames.

UMBC could not manage a base runner in the eighth or ninth, and with two on and none out in the bottom of the ninth, Hall single to center field to plate second baseman Alexis Souhlaris with the winning run.

Cayleigh Montano (1-2) earned the victory in relief for Maine. She allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out 11. Black Bear starter Ashley Kelley gave up four runs on five hits in the first 1.2 innings. Fefel (4-4) suffered the loss after surrendering two runs on six hits and striking out four in 4.2 innings of relief work. Weigman was charged with six runs (five earned) on five hits while striking out seven in the first 3.1 frames.

Brummell, Culotta and junior designated player Lauren O'Malley (Pasadena, Md./Archbishop Spalding) each collected three hits to pace the Retrievers at the plate. Fefel had three RBIs, while Brummell and Culotta each drove in a pair. Culotta also scored twice. Hall was 3-for-5 with four RBI for Maine.

The Retrievers return to action next weekend, when they travel to America East rival Hartford for a three-game set.