UAlbany softball shut out by UMBC in America East tournament championship

A masterful pitching performance from UMBC’s Coppersmith proved to be too much for the UAlbany softball team to overcome Saturday in the finals of the America East Conference tournament.

Courtney Coppersmith pitched a one-hit shutout, and UMBC scored a run in each of the first four innings to take a 4-0 victory in the championship game at Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal.

Coppersmith allowed just two baserunners, a walk to Alexis Phillips to start the game and a leadoff single by UAlbany’s Maddi Petrella in the fifth. She finished the game with 14 strikeouts en route to her 11th win of the season.

Three UAlbany pitchers combined to allow seven hits and strike out four. Wendi Hammond threw the final three innings and did not surrender a run.

UMBC, which improved to 31-10, got a solo home run from Anna Lonchar along with RBIs from Meghan Dempsey and Ashley DellaGuardia.

UAlbany finished its season at 25-17.

UAlbany 000 000 0—0 1 2

UMBC 111 100 x—4 7 0