Baltimore, Md. - Michelle Connors blasted a two-run homer and registered four RBIs as UAlbany was able to salvage a split against UMBC in a pivotal America East Conference softball doubleheader on Saturday, May 8 at the UMBC Softball Stadium. The Retrievers won game one, 1-0, and the Great Danes took game two, 7-3. UAlbany also clinched a conference postseason berth for the ninth time in as many years.
The Great Danes got going early in the nightcap, plating three runs in the top of the first frame. After Diane MacDowell hit a one-out single and stole second, Connors drilled her 23rd career home run to give the visitors a two-run cushion. A Gina Mason single followed by Kat Smith's double down the third base line stretched the Great Danes' lead to three before the Retrievers had a chance to bat.
After Amanda Fefel hit a solo shot over the fence in left to put the hosts on the board, UAlbany (19-21, AE 8-8) tacked on two more runs in the second to go ahead by a 5-1 score. Connors blasted a two-run double to deep center following consecutive singles by Andrianna Walraven and Diane MacDowell.
A heads-up play by Connors allowed the Great Danes to push across two insurance runs in the fourth. The senior swung at strike three on a wild pitch for what could have been the third and final out with two runners in scoring position, but she took off for first and beat the throw. Meanwhile, Nicole Kothe was able to score from third base on the throw to gun down Connors. The Retriever first baseman then turned her back, and Bailey Van Deest came all the way around from second to plate the team's seventh run before Connors was eventually caught in a rundown for the final out of the frame. A two-run homer by Fefel to dead center in the sixth produced the game's final outcome.
UAlbany's Leah McIntosh boosted her record to 8-5 by earning the victory. The senior, who recorded 10 strikeouts and did not issue any walks, allowed three runs and five hits. UMBC's Stephanie Weigman, who got the start and lasted two innings, suffered the loss and dropped to 12-12 after giving up seven hits and five runs. She was relieved by Fefel, who yielded two hits and two unearned runs while striking out six.
The first game featured a pitcher's duel between UAlbany's Marissa Powell and UMBC's Weigman, but both teams had their chances to get on the scoreboard in the opening innings. The Great Danes left the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, while the Retrievers stranded runners on the corners in the bottom of the fourth.
After five scoreless innings, UMBC (25-23, AE 8-11) was able to break through with the game's only run in the bottom of the sixth. Emily Thompson hit a one-out triple that got caught in the wind in center. Malorie Weller flied out to a diving Connors in foul territory for the second out, but pinch runner Carver tagged at third and barely slid in safely at home to give the Retrievers the only run they needed to hang on for the win.
UMBC's Weigman, who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, hurled her third shutout of the season and fanned eight batters. She yielded only one hit on a bloop single by Connors in the sixth and improved her record to 12-11 at the time. UAlbany's Powell, who dropped to 7-11 on the year with the loss, gave up four hits and fanned five batters while surrendering one run.
UAlbany and UMBC will play the rubber match of the three-game weekend series tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m.
Paw Prints: UAlbany has qualified for the America East Conference Tournament every year since joining the league in 2002 ... By splitting a twinbill on the road against Stony Brook today, the second-place Maine Black Bears clinched the right to host the league's championship event which runs from May 13-15 ... Boston University, which currently sits at the top of the standings, is unable to host due to conflicts with its graduation ... Michelle Connors hit her 34th career double, which stood as the game-winning hit, in the second inning of the nightcap ... She needs five more to break the school record of 38, which is currently held by Kelly Ogden.
-agate-
UAlbany 000 000 0 0 1 0
UMBC 000 001 x 1 4 1
UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith
UMBC: Stephanie Weigman and Amanda Page
UAlbany 320 200 0 7 9 1
UMBC 100 002 0 3 5 2
UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith
UMBC: Stephanie Weigman, Amanda Fefel (3) and Amanda Page
UMBC 1, UAlbany 0 (May 08, 2010 - UMBC Softball Stadium, Baltimore, Md.)
The Automated ScoreBook
Albany at UMBC (Game 1)
May 08, 2010 at Baltimore, Md. (UMBC Softball Stad.)
Albany 0 (18-21,7-8)
|
| Player |
ab |
r |
h |
rbi |
bb |
so |
po |
a |
lob |
| Walraven, A. ss |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Kothe, N. lf |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
| Connors, M. 2b |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| Mason, G. 1b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
| Smith, K. c |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
| Bergin, J. rf |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
| Apostolina, 3b |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Van Deest, B dh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Haan, A. pr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| MacDowell, D cf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Powell, M. p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Totals |
23 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
18 |
3 |
6 |
| |
UMBC 1 (25-22,6-10)
|
| Player |
ab |
r |
h |
rbi |
bb |
so |
po |
a |
lob |
| Brummell 2b |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Fefel 3b |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
| Thompson rf |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Carver pr |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Weller 1b |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
| Beavers pr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| O'Malley dh |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Culotta cf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Page c |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
| Pronobis lf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Vetock ss |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| Weigman p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Totals |
21 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
21 |
4 |
4 |
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
Albany.............. 000 000 0 - 0 1 0
UMBC................ 000 001 X - 1 4 1
-----------------------------------------
|
| E - Pronobis(4). LOB - Great Danes 6; Retrievers 4. 3B - Thompson(2). HBP - Mason, G.; Van Deest, B. SF - Weller. SB - Walraven, A.(15); Haan, A.(1); MacDowell, D(10). |
| Albany |
ip |
h |
r |
er |
bb |
so |
wp |
bk |
hbp |
ibb |
ab |
bf |
fo |
go |
| Powell, M. L,7-11 |
6.0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
23 |
9 |
4 |
| |
| UMBC |
ip |
h |
r |
er |
bb |
so |
wp |
bk |
hbp |
ibb |
ab |
bf |
fo |
go |
| Weigman W,12-11 |
7.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
23 |
27 |
8 |
5 |
| Win - Weigman (12-11). Loss - Powell, M. (7-11). Save - None. HBP - by Weigman (Mason, G.); by Weigman (Van Deest, B). PB - Smith, K..
Umpires -
Start: 1:00pm Time: 1:30 Attendance: 225
|
UAlbany 7, UMBC 3 (May 08, 2010 - UMBC Softball Stadium, Baltimore, Md.)
2010 UAlbany Softball
Albany at UMBC (Game 2)
May 08, 2010 at Baltimore, Md. (UMBC Softball Stad.)
Albany 7 (19-21,8-8)
|
| Player |
ab |
r |
h |
rbi |
bb |
so |
po |
a |
lob |
| Walraven, Andrianna ss |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| MacDowell, Diane cf |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Connors, Michelle 2b/3b |
4 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Mason, Gina 1b |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
| Smith, Kat c |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
| Apostolina, Kylie 3b |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Wambold, Katie 2b |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Bergin, Jessica rf |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Van Deest, Bailey dh |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Cilley, Kayla ph |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Kothe, Nicole lf |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| McIntosh, Leah p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
| Totals |
30 |
7 |
9 |
5 |
0 |
7 |
21 |
5 |
3 |
| |
UMBC 3 (25-23,6-11)
|
| Player |
ab |
r |
h |
rbi |
bb |
so |
po |
a |
lob |
| Brummell 2b |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
| Fefel dh/3b |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Thompson rf |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Weller 1b |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
| O'Malley 3b/dh |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Yannone 3b |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
| Page c |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
2 |
| Culotta cf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Scroggin lf |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Mason lf/ph |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pronobis lf/cf |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Vetock ss |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
| Weigman p/dh |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Carver 3b |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Totals |
26 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
10 |
21 |
13 |
3 |
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
Albany.............. 320 200 0 - 7 9 1
UMBC................ 100 002 0 - 3 5 2
-----------------------------------------
|
| E - Walraven, A.; Brummell; Page. LOB - Great Danes 3; Retrievers 3. 2B - Connors, M.(9); Smith, K.(9). HR - Connors, M.(3); Fefel 2(13). HBP - O'Malley. SH - MacDowell, D. SB - MacDowell, D; Bergin, J.. |
| Albany |
ip |
h |
r |
er |
bb |
so |
wp |
bk |
hbp |
ibb |
ab |
bf |
fo |
go |
| McIntosh, Leah W,8-5 |
7.0 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
26 |
27 |
6 |
5 |
| |
| UMBC |
ip |
h |
r |
er |
bb |
so |
wp |
bk |
hbp |
ibb |
ab |
bf |
fo |
go |
| Weigman L,12-12 |
2.0 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
13 |
2 |
3 |
| Fefel |
5.0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
18 |
1 |
8 |
| Win - McIntosh, L. (8-5). Loss - Weigman (12-12). Save - None. HBP - by McIntosh, L. (O'Malley). PB - Smith, K..
Umpires -
Start: 2:50pm Time: 1:40 Attendance: 235
Weather: Sunny and windy
|
