Alex Byo picked up the win for Tulane after throwing seven shutout innings and scattering four hits to even his record at 2-2.

Sophomore Shane Vlasic (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) (1-2) was charged with the loss for UMBC, giving up four runs on five hits in three innings of work. 

The Retrievers nearly got on the board in the top of the first, but stranded senior Brian Klukowicz (Clifton, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) and senior Max Himmelstein (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) on first and second, respectively.  Klukowicz led UMBC in the series opener, going 3-for-4 at the plate.

Tulane made UMBC pay by scoring at least one run in each of the first five innings.  The Green Wave out hit the Retrievers 13-6 and had at least one base runner in seven of eight trips to the plate.

The hosts scored early and often Friday, but Vlasic was unlucky in the first as the setting sun obstructed a throw to first, allowing one run to score and push the score to 2-0.

The Green Wave extended the lead to three, 3-0, in the bottom of the second when Troy McCartneyscampered home from third while Brandon Boudreaux was caught in a rundown between first and second.

After plating one more in the bottom of the third, Tulane touched up freshman reliever Jon Cobo (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) for three runs in the fourth, increasing its lead to 7-0.

Cobo held the Green Wave scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, sending the Green Wave hitters down in order courtesy of a ground out and two liners, the second of which came on a diving play by freshman second baseman Jake Barnes (Annandale, Va./Annandale).  McCartney sent a stinging line drive up the middle that looked destined for a single, but Barnes took three steps to his right before laying out to make the spectacular catch.

Tulane increased the lead to a game-high eight with a run in the seventh, but UMBC got on the board in the top of the eighth, bringing the lead back to seven, 8-1, on a RBI groundout by juniorTom Gilchrist (Olney, Md./Sherwood/Chesapeake CC).  Himmelstein scored on the play after singling with one out.

The Retrievers could not get any closer, though freshman Vince Corbi drew a ninth inning walk, UMBC's fourth of the game. 

UMBC and Tulane continue their three-game series on Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.  Sophomore Mac Gill (Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson) will get the ball for the Retrievers, while the Green Wave will counter with junior lefty David Napoli.

DAWG BITES

-           Klukowicz has hit safely in each of his first six games this year, picking up multi-hit games in half of the contests.  He is now batting .407 (11-for-27) this season.

-          Himmelstein extended his hitting streak to five games with his single in the eighth.

-          UMBC did not record an extra base hit for the third time this season.  Cincinnati and Towson also held the Retrievers without one.