BALTIMORE, Md. – The University of Maryland Baltimore County defeated the South Carolina State softball team 14-6 and 12-4 in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at the UMBC Softball Stadium.

In the first game, UMBC (20-15) jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first four innings. In the top of the fifth, SC State (8-22) scored six runs on six hits, including a two-RBI double by Tiara Lovejoy, to tie the game at 6-all. But the Retrievers got five runs in the bottom of the fifth and three in the sixth the end the game early and seal the win.

Jareece Sayles allowed 10 hits and 11 earned runs in four innings to take the loss. Kierra Cromer tossed one and two-third innings in relief and gave up five hits and three earned runs. Unique Whitehurst led the offense with two hits in two at-bats and added a run and an RBI.

Game two was a lot closer to start. UMBC struck first and got four runs in the first inning. By the end of the third inning, the Lady Bulldogs evened things out at four runs apiece. The Retrievers went on to score eight more runs while holding SC State scoreless over the last three frames.

Cromer suffered her seventh defeat of the season in game two. She pitched five and two-third innings in relief and allowed 11 hits and eight runs (seven earned). Whitehurst, Ciana Burt and Jada Richardson all had two hits in the night cap. Lovejoy went 1-for-3 with a run and a triple, her first of the year.

The Lady Bulldogs are off until next Saturday when they host Florida A&M in a three-game MEAC series. Saturday’s doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. and the teams wrap up play in a noon game on Sunday.