PHILADELPHIA- The La Salle softball team split an afternoon doubleheader with UMBC falling in game one, 1-6, before grabbing the second game, 6-0.
Two La Salle (10-10, 7-2 A-10) pitchers combined to throw a two-hitter in the second game. Freshman
McKenzie Peace (4-3) picked up the win throwing 4.0 innings allowing only two hits and three walks while striking out a batter. Junior
Mary Cate Scott came in and earned the save (3) throwing 3.0 innings not allowing a baserunner while notching two strikeouts.
Sophomore
Mackenzie Obert and junior
Erica Reis each knocked a two-run homer to fuel the Explorers offense while sophomore
Christina Bascara went 3-4 in the second game with a pair of doubles and an RBI and senior
Linnette Siedler went a perfect 4-4.
The Explorers jumped out to a lead thanks to a two-run homer from Obert in the second inning. The shot was her second of the season. She drove home Reis who had led off the inning with a walk. Bascara later singled through the left side of the infield to bring home Siedler who started a two-out rally with a single to left field. La Salle walked away from the inning with a 3-0 lead.
La Salle added to their lead in the fifth inning when Reis hit a two-run shot to center field that hit off the flagpole beyond the fence. The shot brought home freshman
Valerie Pineiro who reached on an infield single before stealing second base. The two-run homer made it a 5-0 advantage in favor of the hosts.
The final run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Pineiro singled to left field with the bases jammed to bring home Siedler. The center fielder had led off the inning with a single to center. This made the score 6-0 which proved to be the final.
Scott threw 3.0 innings without allowing a baserunner recording nine straight outs and stranding the one runner she had inherited to earn the save.
La Salle had jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first game of the doubleheader before the Retrievers scored six straights to grab the top half of the twin bill. Sophomore
Suzanne Swanicke led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo homer to center field to give La Salle a 1-0 lead.
However, UMBC would capitalize on a pair of three-run homers in the fourth and seventh innings to grab the 6-1 win.
The Explorers threatened as Siedler hit a two-out double in the sixth inning and advanced to third on the throw, but nothing came of it.
La Salle completes their midweek action tomorrow as they host Drexel in a doubleheader with first pitch slated for 2:30 at West Campus Field.
