VESTAL, N.Y. – Courtney Coppersmith fired a two-hit shutout and Sierra Pierce drove in three runs, leading UMBC (28-9, 12-5 AE) to a 2-0, 4-2 sweep over Binghamton (19-21, 6-8 AE) in an America East softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex. With the victories, the Retrievers have clinched the America East regular-season title as well as the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament.

Coppersmith went the distance in the first game on Saturday, striking out a facility-record 16 batters and not allowing a walk. In the nightcap, she tossed the final two innings and struck out six batters to nail down the save. Coppersmith is now 8-3 this season with six saves.

At the plate, meanwhile, Coopersmith was just as effective. She batted a team-best .600 (3-for-5) and scored three times.

Pierce, meanwhile, drove in the only two runs of the first game with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning.

Sophomore pitcher Allison L'Amoreaux fell to 9-10 with the loss. Over the final six innings, however, she and redshirt freshman pitcher Lindsey Walter held the Retrievers to just six hits and no runs.

In the nightcap, Pierce's infield single in the top of the first inning gave UMBC an early 1-0 advantage.

Senior infielder Makayla Alvarez gave the Bearcats a 2-1 lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning. It was her third home run of the season.

For her career, Alvarez now ranks seventh all time in Binghamton program history with 19 career home runs. She also now has 67 career RBI.

UMBC, however, answered with a two-run home run by Ashley Della Guardia in the top of the fourth inning to go up 3-2. Zoe Russell then drilled a solo homer one inning later, extending the Retriever lead to 4-2.

Kya Matter improved to 15-3 with the victory while graduate student pitcher Chelsea Howard dropped to 8-9 with the loss.

Senior Sophia Pappas came on in relief and pitched 2.2 scoreless innings during the second game. She struck out three batters during that stretch. Over her last 7.2 innings of work, Pappas has not allowed a run.

Senior infielder Alli Richmond batted a team-best .333 (2-for-6) during the doubleheader. In the process, she extended her hitting streak to a career-high nine games. For the season, Richmond is now batting a career-high .310.

Binghamton and UMBC wrap up their conference series with a noon game on Sunday. It will be preceded by the Bearcats' annual Senior Day Ceremony. Being honored at that event will be Alvarez, Howard, Marissa Braito and Morgan Bienkowski.

NOTE: The old facility record for strikeouts in a game was 12, set by Howard against Iona back on March 26.