BALTIMORE - The UMBC baseball team continued to swing the bat well, hitting five home runs, but dropped a 17-11 decision to Yale Monday afternoon. Sophomore right fielder Bryan Russo (Westbury, N.Y./Clarke) had a career day, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and 5 RBI for the Retrievers, who fell to 1-3 on the season. The Bulldogs improved to 1-2.

The Retrievers struck early against Yale again, scoring six in the first inning a day after running 11 across in the opening frame on Sunday. This time, the long ball was the culprit, with senior first baseman Shawn Retz (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech/Catonsville C.C.) hitting a two-run shot to left to score senior Brad Brainer (Chester, Md./Kent Island/Chesapeake JC). Senior Tom Meaney (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem) scored on a Bulldog error before Russo hit a homer to left-center field, scoring sophomore Sterling Sams (Vienna, Va./James Madison) and freshman Max Himmelstein (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) to give UMBC a 6-2 lead.

After Yale rallied in the third with seven runs to take a 9-6 lead, Himmelstein led off with his first collegiate home run. After a Sams walk, Russo hit his second home run of the day, this time to left to tie the game at 9.

The Bulldogs scored six in the next three innings, with the Retrievers' only answer a Retz solo shot and a Sams sacrifice fly that scored Meaney in the fourth.

Both starters, Chris Finneran for Yale and sophomore David DiVita (Mayfield Village, Ohio/Mayfield) for the Retrievers, gave up nine earned runs but neither earned a decision. Robert Gruber (1-0) took the win, giving up two runs in four innings of work, while freshman Michael Pesci (Parsippany, N.J./DePaul Catholic) (0-1) took the loss for the Retrievers, giving up six runs (two earned) in two innings of work. Senior Ryan Morse (Frederick, Md./Catoctin/Chesapeake JC) pitched the final four innings for UMBC, allowing two unearned runs.

The Retrievers return to action Wednesday at Towson, with the scheduled first pitch at 3 p.m.