UAlbany Softball Ties for Second in America East Conference Preseason Coaches Poll

Softball UAlbany Sports Information

Kat Smith's Walk-Off Home Run in the Eighth Lifts UAlbany Softball Over UMBC

Albany, N.Y. ? Junior catcher Kat Smith went 3-for-4 and hit her first career walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the UAlbany softball team to a 4-3 victory over UMBC in the rubber game of a three-game series between the teams on Saturday, April 11 at Albany Field. With the victory, the Great Danes moved into sole possession of fourth place in the America East Conference standings.

            Pitcher Leah McIntosh, who did not allow a runner to reach second base through the first six innings, and the Great Danes carried a 2-0 lead into the final frame thanks to a solo home run by Gina Mason in the second and an RBI single by Jess Bergin in the fourth. After the first batter was retired, UMBC's Lauren O'Malley singled to kickstart the wild finish. On the next play, Emily Thompson lined a homer to left to tie the game at two and eventually force extra innings.

            McIntosh regained control in the top of the eighth by striking out the first two batters. However, Lauren Brummell knocked out a solo home run to right center to put UMBC (25-16, AE 5-6) ahead for the first time, 3-2. In the bottom of the eighth, Mason was hit by a pitch after the first out was recorded to set the stage for Smith. The junior, who holds Division I program records behind the plate for catching six no-hitters and three perfect games, came through in the clutch with her first home run of the season and fourth of her career.

            “I went up there with a clear head, remembered what my coach told me to do and it worked out for me,” said Smith on her final hit. “You have to credit the entire team. None of us ever gave up. I did not win the game (today). The team did.”

            UAlbany's McIntosh improved to 13-1 this season with the victory. She surrendered five hits and three runs which were earned while striking out seven batters. In addition, the junior did not issue a walk for the fourth consecutive start. UMBC's Stephanie Weigman, who leads the conference in victories, settled for the loss and fell to 15-11. She gave up seven hits and four runs, including three earned, while issuing three walks. The sophomore also finished the game with eight strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work.

“That was a huge at bat for Kat, and a big win for us,” head coach Chris Cannata offered. “We needed to take two out of three. It was definitely a big hit in a big moment.”

            UAlbany (21-10, AE 4-3) will continue its longest homestand of the season when Manhattan visits Albany Field on Tuesday, April 14 for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

-agate-

UMBC (25-16, AE 5-6)                000       000       21         3          5          1

UAlbany (21-10, AE 4-3)             010       010       02         4          7          0

            (one out was recorded when the winning run scored)

            UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith.

            UMBC: Stephanie Weigman and Rebecca Bernheimer.

 

UAlbany 4, UMBC 3 (8 inn.) (April 11, 2009 at Albany, N.Y.)


Box Score
 
The Automated ScoreBook
UMBC at Albany
Apr 11, 2009 at Albany, N.Y. (Albany Field)

UMBC 3 (25-16,5-6 AE)

Player   ab    r    h  rbi   bb   so   po    a  lob 
Brummell, Lauren 2b 
Weller, Malorie lf/1b 
Fefel, Amanda 1b/ph 
  Willey, Randi pr/rf 
O'Malley, Lauren dh 
  Pronobis, Lynn pr/lf 
Thompson, Emily rf/ph 
  Carver, Ashley lf 
Culotta, Julia cf 
  Page, Amanda ph 
Kearns, Krista 3b 
Bernheimer, Rebecca c 
  Duff, Alison ph 
Vetock, Jessica ss 
  Mason, Kaela ph 
Weigman, Stephanie p 
Totals  29  22 
  

Albany 4 (21-10,4-3 AE)

Player   ab    r    h  rbi   bb   so   po    a  lob 
Walraven, Andrianna ss 
Bill, Kristine cf 
Connors, Michelle 2b 
Butsch, Meagan 3b 
Bergin, Jessica rf 
Mason, Gina 1b 
Smith, Kat c 
  Talerico, Stephanie pr 
Wambold, Katie dh 
Kothe, Nicole lf 
  MacDowell, Diane pr 
McIntosh, Leah p 
Totals  28  24 
Score by Innings                   R  H  E
------------------------------------------
UMBC................ 000 000 21 -  3  5  1
Albany.............. 010 010 02 -  4  7  0
------------------------------------------

Note: 1 out, 0 runners LOB when the game ended.

E - Kearns. LOB - UMBC 2; Albany 8. 2B - Butsch, M.. HR - Brummell; Thompson; Mason, G.; Smith, K.. HBP - Connors, M.; Mason, G.. SH - Wambold, K.. CS - MacDowell, D.
UMBC   ip  er  bb  so  wp  bk  hbp  ibb  ab  bf  fo  go 
Weigman, Stephanie L,15-11  7.1  28  34 
  
Albany   ip  er  bb  so  wp  bk  hbp  ibb  ab  bf  fo  go 
McIntosh, Leah W,13-1  8.0  29  29  12 
Win - McIntosh, L. (13-1). Loss - Weigman (15-11). Save - None. HBP - by Weigman (Connors, M.); by Weigman (Mason, G.).

Umpires -
Start: 12 p.m. Time: 2:10 Attendance: 60

 

  

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Gina Mason

#32 Gina Mason

IF
5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
Leah McIntosh

#4 Leah McIntosh

RHP
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Kat Smith

#21 Kat Smith

C
5' 2"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Gina Mason

#32 Gina Mason

5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Leah McIntosh

#4 Leah McIntosh

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Kat Smith

#21 Kat Smith

5' 2"
Junior
R/R
C