BALTIMORE--Freshman Max Himmelstein (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) hit his first career grand slam as the UMBC baseball team defeated Hartford, 10-2 to take the four-game America East series, but the Hawks won the second game 7-6 Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. The Retrievers move to 9-27 on the season and 4-12 in conference play.
 
In the bottom of the third of the first game, sophomore Casey Medairy (Elkridge, Md./Howard) singled before moving to second on a senior Brad Brainer (Chester, Md./Kent Island/Chesapeake JC) sacrifice bunt. Senior Wink Nolan (Ellicott City, Md./Calvert Hall/Maryland) singled and senior Tom Meaney (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem) walked before Himmelstein launched his third long ball of the year over the center field fence.
 
Meaney provided some insurance runs in the fifth with his eighth home run of the season to left, scoring fellow senior Shawn Retz (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech/Catonsville C.C.).
 
After the Hawks struck for two in the top of the sixth, Medairy and Brainer walked before Nolan hit a triple to the left-field gap. Retz followed with his ninth home run of the season to conclude the scoring for the Retrievers.
 
Junior starter Kevin Clark (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield/Catonsville C.C.) (3-2) pitched his first complete game of the season for the win, allowing three hits while striking out six. Hartford starter Cory Beahm (2-3) took the loss, allowing six runs in five innings of work.
 
In the second game, UMBC sophomore starter David DiVita (Mayfield Village, Ohio/Mayfield) allowed three runs in his only inning of work, but the Retrievers scored one run in each of the first three innings to tie the game. Brainer hit a sacrifice fly to score sophomore Rich Conlon (Vienna, Va./James Madison) to give the Retrievers a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Hawks would respond with a sac fly of their own in the fifth to tie the game at four.
 
The Hawks loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning and took the lead on a sacrifice fly by Matt Walker. Hartford extended the lead to two on an Andrew Siano RBI single.
 
The Retrievers responded in the bottom of the inning after Retz was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a Meaney double to the left field gap. He scored on a RBI groundout by Himmelstein. Freshman Justin Lamborn () followed with a double to right center to score Meaney and tie the game at six, but Hartford took the lead in the eighth with a Brady Stouffer single to score Beahm.
 
Freshman Michael Pesci (Parsippany, N.J./DePaul Catholic) gave up just two hits in five innings of relief, allowing one run. Senior Ryan Morse (Frederick, Md./Catoctin/Chesapeake JC) (0-3) allowed one run in 2 and 2/3 innings of work, but took the loss. Hartford starter Zach Tarner pitched 4 and 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Bob Rodgers (2-5) allowed two runs in 4 and 2/3 innings to earn the win.
 
The Retrievers return to action Tuesday when they play host to George Mason at 7 p.m. An audio webcast of the game will be broadcast on taped delay at Herb FM on live365.com on Wednesday at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit Herb FM's site.