BALTIMORE, Md. (March 10, 2023)--The Morgan State softball team began the Retriever Classic with a 7-1 victory over Cornell on Friday afternoon at The Diamond at UMBC. The win extended Morgan's winning streak to a season-tying three straight.
 
The Lady Bears' originally scheduled second game of the day against host UMBC was canceled due to the weather. That game is now slated to be rescheduled for Sunday, March 12 at 3:30 p.m.
 
Morgan State (7-8) got on the board in the second inning when Melissa Paz flied out to center field, allowing Deborah Hamilton to advance to third and then score on a throwing error.
 
The Lady Bears extended their lead to 2-0 when Hamilton scored again in the fourth inning on a single by Paz. Asia Thomas made it a 3-0 game with her solo homer to left field.
 
Cornell (2-5) scored its lone run of the game in the sixth inning when Kate Callaway reached on a fielding error at shortstop and was out at second, which scored Maicie Levitt to cut the Morgan deficit to 3-1.
 
Morgan State responded with four runs in the seventh inning to close out the scoring. Thomas singled to center field to score Anaya Hunte for the first run. Thomas and Victoria Fletcher both scored when Madison Nunez reached on a throwing error on the shortstop to up the lead to 6-1. Nunez then ended the scoring when she scored on a triple hit by Mia Ewell to left field.
 
Hamilton led the Lady Bears with a game-high three hits, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a game-high two stolen bases. Thomas was 2-for-4 with two runs and a game-high 2RBI, while Nia Lewis also finished with 2-for-4 at the plate.
 
On the mound, Hunte got the win and improved to 4-3. She pitched a complete game, surrendering one run on two hits and struck out a game-high eight batters.
 
Mia Burd (1-1), who was charged with the loss, gave up three runs on 10 hits and had three strikeouts in six innings of work.
 
Morgan State will face Merrimack on Saturday at 10 a.m., before taking on host UMBC at 3 p.m.