FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College softball team dropped a non-conference doubleheader to the visiting University of Mary Washington Eagles, 3-1 and 9-0 in five innings, Tuesday afternoon at the Hood Softball Complex.

Hood moves to 9-13 while Mary Washington ups its record to 23-17.

The Eagles snapped a scoreless tie in the second inning on back-to-back solo homers by Sarah Axelson and Katherine Davis to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. UMW then tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Catherine Hull.

Hood mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh when Tamara Maggard led off the inning with a walk and Jamie Gardner singled to centerfield. The Kara Robert lined a basehit into centerfield which was bobbled by Jamie Clevenger, allowing Maggard to score Hood's first run of the contest. Ashley Lenhart, representing the potential game-winning run, lined a rocket back at pitcher Kirsten Rowell who speared it for the first out of the inning. The Blazers were unable to push across another run as Katherine Law struck out and Sara Wastler grounded out to short to end the threat.

Maggard was the tough-luck loser, tossing 6.1 innings and allowing just three earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

In the nightcap, UMW's Katherine Matusik got plenty of run support and took a no-hitter into the fifth inning as the Eagles won 9-0 in five innings. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, freshman Stephanie Gardner blooped a fly ball to centerfield. Clevenger raced in from center to make a sliding attempt at the ball, but she trapped it and Gardner reached safely. Pinch hitter Jen Willison walked and Law reached on a bunt single to load the bases once again. But Matusik retired Law on strikes and Wastler on a grounder to seal the victory for the Eagles.

Jamie Gardner took the loss, allowing nine runs on 13 hits with six strikeouts and one walk. Matusik struck out eight Blazers and walked one for UMW.

The Blazers return to action Saturday at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va.