HANOVER, Md. – UMBC sophomore Mac Gill (Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson) threw a career-high seven innings in just his second start as the Retrievers (5-10) defeated local rival Coppin State, 12-4, on Sunday at Joe Cannon Stadium to complete the three-game sweep of the Eagles.  The sweep is UMBC's first since April 2008.

Gill, who made his first career start on Wednesday against Buffalo, struck out seven batters and did not give up an earned run, leveling his record at 1-1 for the year.

Eagles' reliever Michael Roberts was charged with the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in two innings of work.

Senior Curtis Schickner (East Windsor, N.J./Lawrenceville Prep) went 3-for-4 on Sunday to lead a UMBC attack which saw six of nine batters pick up multiple hits against Coppin State.

The Retrievers opened brightly once again as senior Max Himmelstein (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a single to left field.

The UMBC bats then when silent and Coppin State took its first lead of the series, 2-1, with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. 

After Gill and Coppin State starter Paul Hawk both had efficient fourth and fifth innings, UMBC retook the lead with three runs in the top of the sixth. 

Freshman Anthony Gatto (Hauppauge, N.Y./Smithtown West), junior Jason Allinder (Snow Hill, Md./Snow Hill/Chesapeake CC) and sophomore D.J. Smith (Millersville, Md./Old Mill) each singled to lead off the inning, setting up the rally.  After Schicker hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Gatto, freshman Vince Corbi (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) singled to drive in Allinder.  Sophomore Rob McCabe (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) finished the rally with a single of his own to bring around Smith.

The Eagles answered right back, however, scoring two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 4-4. 

The Retrievers responded to the challenge, plating eight unanswered runs in three innings, including three in the seventh and four in the ninth, to finish the sweep.

Schickner had the breakthrough hit for UMBC, driving in Gatto with an RBI single through the right side of the Eagle defense in the seventh.  Freshman Ian Glassman (Basking Ridge, N.J./Rutgers Prep) built on the lead three batters later with an infield single.  He finished the rally by scoring on a wild pitch.

In the ninth inning, senior Brian Klukowicz (Clifton, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) capped UMBC's big weekend at the plate with a two-RBI triple to right field.

The Retrievers have the midweek off for spring break before heading down to New Orleans, La. to take on Tulane for a three-game series.

DAWG BITES

-           UMBC has now scored in the first inning in four straight games.

-          The win gives the Retrievers their first three-game win streak since defeating Long Island, NJIT and North Dakota State in March 2010 in Winter Haven, Fla.

-          The sweep is UMBC's first since April 2008 when the Black and Gold took four straight against America East rival Hartford.

-          The Retrievers tied a season-high, set yesterday, with 16 hits on Sunday.

-          UMBC's 41 runs in the three games vs. Coppin State are the most in any series this season.

-          Brian Klukowicz has now hit safely in a team-best five consecutive games