UAlbany Softball Splits Doubleheader with UMBC in America East Action

Baltimore, Md. – Junior Meagan Butsch went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and drove in three to lead UAlbany to a 9-4 America East Conference softball victory over UMBC on Monday afternoon. The Great Danes split the doubleheader, falling to the Retrievers 6-1 in the first game.

UAlbany (15-11, AE 3-1) scored runs in the first three innings of the nightcap, including solo home runs from senior left fielder Amber Maisonet and sophomore second baseman Michelle Connors (Shenendehowa) to hold a 4-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the third. UMBC (15-19, AE 4-2) tied the game with two runs in their half of the frame, as Amanda Fefel doubled to centerfield to score Jessica Vetok and Dana Shepherd, who both drew walks to start the inning.

After a scoreless fourth, Nicole Kothe knocked a single to right field to start the following inning. Butsch then smacked her third home run of the season over the left field fence to put the Great Danes back on top by two, 6-4. UAlbany added three more runs in the top of the seventh. Fefel, who entered the game in relief, issued two straight walks to Kothe and Connors, and Butsch recorded her third RBI of the game, blasting a double down the right field line to score pinch runner Kristine Bill. In the next at bat, freshman designated player Gina Mason singled to the shortstop, driving in Connors, and Butsch came home on the throw to end the scoring rally.

Sophomore right-hander Leah McIntosh struck out ten Retrievers in a complete-game performance, improving to 9-3 on the season. Ashley Gray picked up the loss for UMBC after relieving Stephanie Weigman in the circle in the fourth inning.

UMBC had the hot bats in the early game, scoring six runs off 12 hits. The Retrievers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Shepherd scored on a Fefel’s sacrifice fly. UAlbany tied the game in the top half of the fourth when Butsch homered to centerfield.

UMBC tacked on two more runs in the fifth, led off by a single up the middle by Gray. Catcher Kali Shirk doubled to left to advance the base runner, and Gray scored on an RBI single by Lauren Brummell. Shirk crossed home plate by way of a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Lynn Pronobis. Starting pitcher Marissa Powell struck out the next batter to work her way out of the inning.

The Retrievers added three more runs in the sixth, led off by designated player Alison Duff’s home run. UMBC then recorded three straight singles, with Shirk and Brummell driving in runs to give the Retrievers a five-run advantage heading into the final inning.

Designated player Bailey Van Deest recorded a single to left to give the Great Danes a scoring chance, but Gray induced the final two outs to seal the win for UMBC. Gray struck out seven in a complete-game performance. Marissa Powell took the loss for UAlbany, striking out one opposing batter in five innings of work. Reliever Brittany Rose (Schenectady) fanned two in the final inning.

UAlbany continues America East play on Wednesday, hosting Vermont in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany 000 100 0 - 1 5 2

UMBC 100 023 x - 6 12 1

UAlbany: Marissa Powell, Brittany Rose (6) and Leanne Tillman.

UMBC: Ashley Gray and Kali Shirk.



UAlbany (15-11, AE 3-1) 112 020 3 - 9 8 1

UMBC (15-19, AE 4-2) 202 000 0 - 4 6 1

UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith.

UMBC: Stephanie Weigman, Ashley Gray (4), Amanda Fefel (7) and Kali Shirk.