TOWSON, Md. – The UMBC baseball team (1-7) recorded only two hits in its first midweek game of the 2012 campaign and was shutout, 11-0, by local rival Towson, Wednesday afternoon at Schuerholz Park.

Towson freshman Paul Beers and six relievers combined to yield only two Retriever hits and faced only 28 batters, one over the minimum.  Beers threw four scoreless innings and struck out six batters to pick up his first collegiate victory.

"Any time you come off of a win we try to build momentum so we're a little disappointed," said head coach Bob Mumma.  "We'll go back to work and try to focus on Navy."

Senior Steve Miller (Newark, Del./Dickinson) was charged with the loss (0-2) after giving up three earned runs on five hits over three innings of work.

Senior Max Himmelstein (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) and freshman Ian Glassman (Basking Ridge, N.J./Rutgers Prep) were the only Retrievers to pick up hits on Wednesday against the Tigers.

Towson started quickly, picking up single runs in each of the first three innings.  After the Tigers opened the third inning with a solo homerun, the next two batters also reached base, on a walk and a hit batter.  The Retrievers got out of the inning the very next batter though, turning the program's first triple play while coach Mumma has been at UMBC.

"I honestly don't remember anytime that we've turned a triple play since I've been at the school," said Mumma, who was an assistant for the past 15 years, and played for three seasons from 1990-1992.

UMBC made history when Tiger centerfielder Ben Winter flied out to center.  Junior Tom Gilchrist(Olney, Md./Sherwood/Chesapeake CC) made the catch and then threw to freshman shortstop Jake Barnes (Annandale, Va./Annandale) to double up one runner.  Barnes then threw to Himmelstein to complete the play.

The Retrievers could not build any momentum however, and found themselves further behind as the Tigers scored a run each in the fifth and sixth innings, and then plated six runs in the bottom of the seventh.

UMBC returns to the field on Friday when the Retrievers begin a three-game home-and-home series with Navy.  The Midshipmen come to Baltimore on Friday, before the Retrievers travel to Annapolis on Saturday and Sunday.

DAWG BITES

-           The Retrievers' two hits on Wednesday is their lowest offensive output of the season and the fewest hits in a regulation game since picking up only two hits against Binghamton on May 7, 2011.

-          Himmelstein's hit extends his modest hit streak to four games.

-     There has now been a triple play recorded in two out of the last four UMBC games.  Army accomplished the feat to end the game and claim victory in last weekend's series opener.