UMBC

The Central Connecticut Blue Devils finished out a weekend of Northeast Conference softball by splitting a pair of one-run games with UMBC, the defending Northeast Conference champion, on Sunday afternoon in New Britain.

The Blue Devils downed the Retrievers, 3-2, in the first game, with freshman Kristin Rozanski  driving in shortstop Karolyn Andrews with a two-out, game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh. Andrews opened the inning with CCSU's fourth hit off of losing pitcher Amy Sadowl (9-6).

The Blue Devils logged a pair of runs in the first frame. Kristin Kropp opened the inning with a single, with Heather Mills reaching on an infield miscue. Catcher Debra Munson drove in Kropp with a sacrifice to center, while an Andrews basehit plated Mills for the quick 2-0 lead for the Blue Devils.

The Retrievers, picked second in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, notched a solo run in the third, with Amanda Bile crossing the plate on sophomore Kristie Pickeral's basehit. Pickeral, the 2002 NEC Rookie-of-the-Year, was 3-3 in the game, with a walk.

UMBC knotted the game at 2-2 with an unearned run in the fifth. Sarah Crowell's bases loaded walk scored Abby Kahn, who reached on an infield bobble.

Senior Jess Cline relieved Danielle Cyr to start the sixth inning, and improved to 2-5 with the victory, her second of the weekend. Cyr was tagged for six hits, two runs, with five strikeouts and five walks.

Bile notched the visitors' first run in the nightcap, crossing the plate on Pickeral's third-inning double. The Blue Devils immediately responded, gridlocking the game at 1-1 on Mills' RBI single, scoring senior centerfielder Shaena Mainville.

Jen SanFilippo clubbed a fourth-inning double to score Lara Seamon, who was hit by a pitch, with the game-winner. UMBC, which swept Quinnipiac on Saturday, improved to 20-17-1 overall and 6-2-1 in conference play with the win.

Cline went the distance for the Blue Devils (7-19, 3-7), falling to 2-6 with the five-hitter. She walked two and fanned six.

Lauren Nicholson earned the six-hit victory and is 8-7 on the season. She walked one and struck out one.