Game One Score: UMBC 9, UAlbany 4
Game Two Score: UAlbany 12, UMBC 4 (5 Innings)
Location: Albany Field in Albany, N.Y.
Records: UAlbany (12-15, 3-5 America East) | UMBC (14-8, 3-2 America East)
Short Story: The University at Albany softball team split a doubleheader with America East foe UMBC this afternoon. The Great Danes fell in game one thanks to strong pitching from the Retrievers, limiting the Great Danes to just three hits. The team rebounded in a big way however, enforcing the mercy rule with a 12-4 win in game two.
Katie Falotico was the star player of the afternoon, hitting two balls out of the park and collecting five RBIs on four hits, adding five runs to her stat line as well.
Coach Chris Cannata: "Our hitters executed our plan well in game one, but we didn't get the pitching performance that we needed and made too many defensive mistakes. It was important to get the split today and we are feeling confident going into game three tomorrow."
Key Stats Game One:
Key Stats Game Two:
- Falotico and Petty both had great games, each collecting four RBIs off of three hits to lead the team. Lové Drumgole also had a strong performance, earning three hits as well, and Tara Driver was able to score three RBIs off of a homerun.
- Briana Garrett had a strong outing from the circle. The junior pitcher from California pitched all five innings, allowing just three runs on seven hits while accumulating three strikeouts.
- Not a single Great Dane struck out in game two.
- Falotico led the way with three runs, followed by Drumgole and Phillips with two each.
How it Happened Game One:
- UMBC got off to an early start, with Wilson homering in the first to put the Retrievers up 2-0.
- The Great Danes fired right back in the bottom half of the inning, with Falotico sending a solo shot over the right field fence and Petrella later singling in Petty to tie the game at two.
- UMBC re-took the lead in the second, scoring three runs off one swing of the bat from Coppersmith, homering to center.
- UMBC added another two runs in the third off of a two-run homerun from Wilson.
- The Retrievers added another run in the fourth before scoring their final in the sixth, with Della Guardia collecting an RBI off of a single.
- UAlbany was able to score twice in the sixth to cut the lead to 9-4. Falotico scored on a passed ball, and Jimenez doubled in Petty. Both runs were unearned.
How it Happened Game Two:
- Falotico hit her second long ball of the day to start things off for the Great Danes, sending one deep to left to put UAlbany up 1-0 in the first.
- Falotico again came up clutch in the second, singling in Drumgole and Lewis to increase the lead to three.
- UMBC tied the game with three runs in the third. Keffler hit a sac fly to score Colton. Hawker scored on a ball thrown to second, taking advantage of the attempted steal from Daigneau. Finally, Wilson singled in Daigneau to lock it up at three runs each before the inning came to an end.
- The Great Danes responded by posting seven runs of their own in the third inning. Mitros first singled to center to score Petrella before Driver homered to left, scoring Mitros and Barkevich. Falotico then continued her big day with another RBI, singling in Dumgole to make the score 8-3. Petty finished off the inning with a two RBI single through the right side to push the lead to seven runs.
- The Retrievers gained another run the fifth, capitalizing on a dropped ball in center field.
- The Great Danes closed out the game in the bottom of the fifth, enforcing the mercy rule. Petty ended it all be singling through the right side, scoring Falotico and Phillips.
Next: UAlbany faces off against UMBC again tomorrow afternoon to close out the weekend's three-game series. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.
