BALTIMORE – The UMBC Retrievers are back-to-back #AESB champions! Sierra Pierce’s RBI single in the sixth inning delivered the only run of the game and Courtney Coppersmith made it hold up with a sterling pitching performance as the top-seeded Retrievers beat third-seeded Stony Brook Saturday afternoon at The Diamond at UMBC to win the league title.
UMBC, who went a perfect 3-0 in the tournament to claim its second-straight crown will learn NCAA fate during the selection show, which is set for Sunday, May 16 at 9 p.m. The NCAA Softball Championship Selection Show will be televised on ESPN2.
Pierce was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after delivering the clutch hit Saturday. Overall she batted .375 with a walk and four RBIs in UMBC’s three tournament games.
For five innings, Coppersmith and Stony Brook’s Dawn Bodrug went toe-to-toe in the circle as both teams were scoreless in their first five frames. The Seawolves managed two hits off Coppersmith and had their best chance in the fifth. With two outs, Julianna Sanzone reached on an error and Shauna Nuss singled. But, Coppersmith, the America East Pitcher of the Year, got Jourdin Hering to line out to second base to end the threat.
In the home half of the sixth, Julia Keffler walked and stole second before Pierce delivered UMBC’s lone hit of the game, a line drive down the third base line that brought home Keffler.
The lone run was all UMBC would need. Coppersmith, an All-Championship selection, retired the Seawolves in the seventh to seal UMBC’s repeat title.
Bodrug was nearly flawless, allowing just the one run on one hit while striking out six. Coppersmith earned the complete game shutout, her 19th win of the year, surrendering just two hits and fanning five.
Pierce and Coppersmith were joined on the All-Championship team by Keffler and Maddie Daigneau, Stony Brook’s Bodrug, Nicole McCarville and Melissa Rahrich, UAlbany’s Kelly Barkevich and Madison Petrella and UMass Lowell’s Sarah Ratcliffe.
Coppersmith was recognized as the America East Elite 18 award winner in America East for having the highest GPA among student-athletes competing in the championship round. The junior holds a 3.75 GPA GPA majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology.
Re-live the tournament by visiting Championship Central for visit for box scores and recaps in addition to team information, tournament history and more.
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