UMBC

Angela Yannone drove in the winning runs with a double in the 10th.

BALTIMORE—Junior third baseman Angela Yannone (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) hit a bases-loaded two-run double in the bottom of the 10th inning to send the UMBC softball team (11-9) to their sixth straight victory, 9-8, over Brown Sunday afternoon on the final day of the UMBC Spring Classic at UMBC Softball Stadium.

The Retrievers scored twice in the third on an RBI triple by senior center fielder Lynn Pronobis (Waldorf, Md./McDonough) and a two-out single by junior pitcher Katie Ferguson (North East, Md./North East/Cecil CC), then added another in the fourth on an RBI single by senior first baseman Lauren O'Malley (Pasadena, Md./Archbishop Spalding).

UMBC took that 3-0 lead into the seventh inning, as Ferguson cruised through the first six frames, allowing just one hit – a leadoff single in the fifth – and two walks. But she ran into some trouble in the seventh, allowing back-to-back singles to start the inning, but she retired the next two batters before walking catcher Kristi Munoz to load the bases. Then pinch hitter Sandra Mastrangelo, who was down to her final strike, singled to left to bring in two runners, and the UMBC defense deserted Ferguson on the next batter, committing three errors on one play to allow to more runs to score to give Brown its first lead of the game, and the Bears held a 5-3 advantage by the end of the inning after another RBI single.

But the resilient Retrievers did not give up, capitalizing on three Brown errors in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game, with the two-run rally occurring with two outs.

The game went to extra innings, and each team scored single runs in the eighth and ninth frames. Brown scored another run in the top of the 10th to take an 8-7 lead, but all three UMBC batters to come to the plate in the bottom of the inning reached, and Yannone’s double plated senior left fielder Julia Culotta (Street, Md./North Harford/Tennessee) and Ferguson with the winning runs.

"The team proved they could come back and keep fighting all weekend," head coach Joe French said. "We were resilient numerous times today and during the tournament. It is nice to win the tournament championship the week before conference play begins. We still have to improve in some key areas, and I am confident we will."

Ferguson (3-2) earned the victory after allowing six runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks in 7.2 innings of work. Kristie Chin (4-3) suffered the complete-game loss for Brown after giving up nine runs (four earned) on 14 hits.

Eight different Retrievers had at least one hit in the game, led by Ferguson’s 3-for-5 effort. Brown first baseman Kate Strobel also went 3-for-5 to lead the Bears.

The Retrievers return to action on Tuesday, when they host Temple in a doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.