UMBC Takes Two From Baseball, 4-2 And 9-5
ALBANY, N.Y. – The visiting UMBC Retrievers swept Saturday’s America East Conference doubleheader, overcoming the University at Albany baseball team by scores of 4-2 and 9-5. UMBC held the lead the entire way in game one, but made a come-from-behind effort in the nightcap, scoring five unanswered runs in the top of the seventh, stealing the victory.
Entering the game, UAlbany (7-18, 4-7) held a slight lead over the Retrievers (9-18, 5-6) in the conference standings, but the roles are now reversed heading into Sunday’s series finale.
In game one, starter Matt Gallup (1-3) took the loss for the Great Danes, tossing 2.2 innings, allowing two runs and six hits. Middle reliever Brendan Ryan had a solid outing, holding the Retrievers to two runs and four hits in 5.2 frames, while also striking out two. Closer Ryan Stinar faced three batters and worked UAlbany out of a ninth-inning jam, allowing one single, while recording the final two outs.
Offensively, UMBC outhit the Danes, 11-7, led by Vince Corbi’s three hits. Senior Brian Bullard piloted UAlbany with his 2-for-4 performance with one RBI.
UMBC took a 2-0 lead, scoring one run in the top of the first, using Kevin Lachance’s leadoff walk, Corbi’s single up the middle, and a double play ball. The Retrievers added another run in the third, stringing together three singles.
In the bottom of the third, UAlbany broke onto the board, as Cory Kingston lined a single up the middle, stole second, and scored on Bullard’s RBI single to right field.
The squads traded runs again in the seventh when Brandon Coluccio logged a leadoff single up the middle and scored on Rob McCabe’s fielder’s choice. In the bottom half of the inning, the Great Danes held the deficit to one, 3-2, as Richard Bacon reached base on a hit by pitch, and scored on a two-out fielding error at second.
In the ninth, Lachance lined a double to left field and Corbi knocked him home with a single down the left field line, giving UMBC a 4-2 advantage. Reliever Jonny Dierks sat the Great Danes down in order to pick up the save. He threw two perfect innings. Riley Stephenson (2-3) earned the win, allowing two runs (one earned) and seven hits in seven innings on the hill.
In the nightcap, the Retrievers jumped out to a quick lead again, scoring three runs off Stephen Woods in the first. After Lachance walked and Andrew Casali singled, Jake Barnes and Manny Colon knocked back-to-back doubles with two outs.
However, UAlbany answered back immediately with two runs, recording five consecutive hits to start things off. D.J. Hoagboon ripped a leadoff double to left-center, Bullard singled through the right side, Evan Harasta hit a RBI single up the middle, Josh Nethaway brought in a run with a single through the left side, and Craig Lepre singled to centerfield before UMBC was able to record its first out. Unfortunately, the rally came to a halt with bases loaded, as starter Mac Gill worked his way out of the jam with three straight outs.
The Danes tied the ballgame, 3-3, in the bottom of the second when Jeff VonMoser led off with a single to right field and Hoagboon lined his second double of the game.
Trading runs in the third, UMBC plated one run and left the bags full, as Woods recorded a side-ending strikeout. UAlbany also scored one, sparked by Alex Luskevich’s triple to the right-centerfield gap, and Kingston brought him in with a single to shortstop.
The score remained tied, 4-4, until the bottom of the sixth when VonMoser drew a leadoff walk, moved into scoring position on Hoagboon’s sacrifice bunt, and scored on Bullard’s single up the middle for the lead.
Striking out the leadoff batter, Woods and the Great Danes were just two outs away from victory before the Retrievers made a furious rally in the top of the seventh. UMBC batted around the order and scored five runs in the inning, using four singles, a walk, and a hit batter to their advantage.
UMBC reliever Bobby Applegate (2-2) logged three straight outs in the bottom of the seventh, earning himself the win. Applegate threw two innings, allowed one run and one hit, and struck out two. Gill took the no-decision, throwing five innings, allowing four runs, 11 hits, and struck out five.
For UAlbany, Woods (1-3) took the loss, tossing 6.1 frames. He allowed seven runs, eight hits, while striking out a career-high seven. Sam DeCelle and Daniel Castro each threw a third of an inning.
Totaling 12 hits as a team, Hoagboon led UAlbany with his 3-for-3 effort with an RBI and a run scored. Bullard also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while everyone else in the Great Danes’ lineup each had a hit.
Sunday’s series finale is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. at Varsity Field.
