Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Box Score 1 (PDF) | Box Score 2 (PDF)

BALTIMORE, Md. – La Salle softball kicked off their busy slate this week with a doubleheader split against UMBC this afternoon at UMBC Softball Stadium. The Explorers laced nine hits, plating late runs in the sixth in seventh to outlast the Retrievers 5-3 in the opener. UMBC shut down the Blue and Gold bats in Game 2, shutting out the Explorers 4-0.
 
La Salle (18-16) got started right off the bat in Game 1. Michelle Hagarty (2-3; 3R, HBP) led off the game reaching on a hit-by-pitch, the 15^th time this season she's been plunked. Megan Hodgson (3-4; 2 2B, 3RBI) would drive her home with a one-out double to the right centerfield gap.
 
The Explorers would add some insurance in the third, again off the bat of Hodgson. Emily Moran (1-3; R) and Hagarty hit consecutive singles to start the frame. After one out, Hodgson would find the left centerfield gap for her second double of the contest, chasing both Moran and Hagarty home for a 3-0 lead.
 
Alicia Aughton got the start for the Explorers, again showing dominant form. She threw four no-hit innings, striking out five, before being lifted in favor of Mary Cate Scott in the fifth. Despite the excellent performance, Aughton would not factor into the decision, as UMBC would battle back to tie the game in the home half of the fifth.
 
Scott (W, 7-8) closed out the final three frames, allowing four hits and three unearned runs in notching her seventh win of the season. She would be victimized by some miscues in the field in her first inning of work. Scott allowed a leadoff single; however, she was able to quickly erase the runner on a 4-6-3 twin-killing. After another single through the right side of the infield by Chelsea Bertoglio, Caitlin Chance reached on an error to put runners on the corners with two away. Mary Hartman followed with a single to plate one, while Katlin Olesky knocked in two more with another single to knot the score at 3-3.
 
The tie would not last for long as the Explorers would get one back against Retriever starter Jessica Holte (L, 16-8) in the next half inning. Hodgson reached on a single – her third hit of the day – to begin the frame. Suzanne Swanicke replaced her on a fielder's choice, while Danielle Cullen would come on to run for Swanicke with one away. Christina Bascara (1-4) followed with a single, with both runners moving an extra 60 feet on a defensive miscue, putting runners on 2^nd and 3^rd. Aughton would reach on an error to load the bases, while Kristin Travers (1-3; RBI) would follow with the game-winning RBI single to drive home Cullen.
 
The Blue and Gold would add an insurance run in the seventh. Hagarty and Kendra Heyer (1-1) began the inning with singles, with Hagarty coming around to score on a throwing error. Scott shut the door in the bottom of the frame retiring UMBC 1-2-3 to notch the win.
 
The Explorers bats were stifled by UMBC (28-17) in Game 2, as Nicole Casagrand (W, 5-3) held the Blue and Gold to just four hits and two walks over seven shutout innings. Bascara (2-3), Heyer (1-2; BB) and Travers (1-1) were the only Explorers to collect hits in the nightcap.
 
Scott (L, 7-9) got the start for the Explorers in the second game. She went the distance in the loss, relinquishing eight hits and four earned runs over six innings of work. The Retrievers scored one run in the first and added three more in fifth.
 
La Salle will have a quick turnaround, as they will take on Big 5 rival St. Joseph's in a weekday conference doubleheader at SJU Softball Field. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 3:00 PM. The Explorers currently sit second in the A-10 standings with a 9-3 record, while the Hawks are on their heels in third with a mark of 6-4.