UMBC

Brooklyn, NY -- Third-seeded Quinnipiac blasted a conference tournament record four home runs, including two by senior Jill Cimminello (Norwalk, CT), and registered a 9-1 five-inning victory over top-seeded UMBC in game five of the Northeast Conference Softball Tournament in downtown Brooklyn. The win moves the Bobcats into the championship round against Long Island, while UMBC is eliminated.

The Bobcats jumped on Retriever starter Lauren Nicholson (Audobon, NJ) for three runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, freshman Alyssa Mansolf (Durham, CT) singled and Cimminello launched the first of her homers over the left center field fence. The Bobcats added their third run of the inning, when with the bases loaded, Nicholson uncorked a wild pitch.

Quinnipiac erupted for five runs in the second on a two-run homer by Mansolf, her second of the tournament, and a three-run shot by freshman Brandi Simon (Mundelein, IL).

The Retrievers inched a run closer in the third on a two-out run-scoring single by sophomore Kristie Pickeral (Hughesville, MD), but Cimminello put the game away in the next inning with her second long ball of the contest.

UMBC put two runners on in the fourth, but Bobcat starter Alisha Zabel (Harrington, DE) induced Sarah Crowell (Fairless Hills, PA) to ground out and struck out Christina French (Waterloo, NY) to end the threat.

Zabel in her five innings, allowed one run on four hits, while walking three and striking out two to earn her 12th win of the year. For UMBC, Nicholson was lifted before retiring a batter in the second inning having yielded five runs (three earned) on five hits, while walking one and striking out none. Freshman Amy Sadowl (Horsham, PA) surrendered four runs on five hits over her four innings of relief.

With the victory, the Bobcats improve to 34-18 with their win total representing the most in school history. The Retrievers end their season with a ledger of 40-22.