Baltimore, MD - The University of Hartford softball team (18-21 overall, 9-9 AE) dropped a pair of games with America East conference foe UMBC (34-19 overall, 12-8 AE) on Saturday, falling 9-0 in the first game and 8-0 in the tail end of the doubleheader.
Senior Amanda Sais highlighted the afternoon for the Hawks, notching one of Hartford's three hits to become the program's all-time leader in career hits with 158. With the milestone hit, the right fielder surpassed Danielle Simoneau's record, which was set in the 1997 season. Sais is etched throughout the Hartford record book as she ranks at the top in career hits, runs, at-bats, games and starts, while ranking fourth in stolen bases.
UMBC sophomore Stephanie Weigman blanked Hartford over 11 innings, while tallying 19 strikeouts to lead UMBC to two wins over the Hawks. Hartford managed just three hits on the afternoon off of the hurler, with Sara Messinger notching the lone hit in game one, and Shannon Simpkins and Sais recording the only hits in the final game of the day.
In the opening game, UMBC rallied to put six runs on the scoreboard in the second inning, and tacked on three more insurance runs in the third for the 9-0, five-inning victory over Hartford. Junior hurler Brittney Stratton threw for four innings, giving up nine earned runs off 10 hits with three strikeouts. Julia Culotta led the Retrievers at the plate, finishing 2-for-2 with a homer and four RBI. She was one of three Retrievers who recorded multiple hits on the afternoon.
In the nightcap, Hartford pitcher Siera Sheehan started inside the circle, accounting for seven of UMBC's runs in 1.2 innings. Stratton pitched four innings in relief, giving up one run in the sixth while recording four strikeouts. Malorie Weller led the Retreivers' offense, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a homer while driving in three runs.
With today's results, the four-team field for the America East Championship is set, with Stony Brook, Boston University, Albany and UMBC clinching bids. The Hawks will conclude the regular season with the final contest of the three-game series at UMBC on Sunday, May 3. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
