UMBC

Stephanie Weigman allowed just four hits in seven innings.

BALTIMORE—Senior Stephanie Weigman (Elkridge, Md./Archbishop Spalding) struck out 12 and the UMBC softball team (7-9) scored twice in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and defeat George Mason (7-7) by a score of 3-1, Wednesday afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium.

Weigman and Patriot starter Miranda Cranford each allowed just one hit over the first three innings. But Kelsey Byrd relieved Cranford in the fourth and the Retrievers broke the scoreless tie with a one-out squeeze bunt by junior third baseman Ashley Carver (Swoyersville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West), which plated senior center fielder Lynn Pronobis (Waldorf, Md./McDonough), who had singled to lead off the inning.

George Mason tied it in the top of the fifth with an unearned run when right fielder Samantha Barney reached on an error with one out and eventually scored on a single by center fielder Alyssa See.

The score remained tied at 1-1 until the bottom of the sixth, when Pronobis again greeted new Patriot pitcher, Stephanie Maher, with a leadoff single. With one out, junior first baseman Katie Ferguson (North East, Md./North East/Cecil CC) hit a liner to second which second baseman Tori Dudley trapped, putting runners on the corners for junior Angela Yannone (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake), who drove in Pronobis with an RBI groundout. The next batter, senior designated player Lauren O'Malley (Pasadena, Md./Archbishop Spalding), reached on an error that plated Ferguson.

The Patriots threatened in the top of the seventh, getting two on with two outs, but Weigman struck out See to end the game.

Weigman (5-5) allowed just one unearned run on four hits and one walk in the complete game victory. Her 12 strikeouts were a season high. Maher (3-1) took the loss for George Mason after allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits in one inning of relief.

Pronobis paced the Retrievers offensively, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three steals. UMBC stole seven bases on the day.

The Retrievers return to action this weekend, when they host the UMBC Spring Classic beginning Friday.