Atlanta, Ga.—UMBC baseball dropped a 4-1 decision in the series opener against Georgia Tech (5-0) on Friday afternoon. The Retrievers pounded out nine hits, but only scored one run in the ninth in the loss. UMBC falls to 1-4 in the early going of the season.

The Retrievers got a pair of hits in their half of the first, but failed to score any runs. After a 1-2-3 top of the second inning, the Yellow Jackets got on the board with a pair of runs on their half on a two RBI single.

Georgia Tech would tack on another run in the fourth, and again in the seventh to seal the win.

UMBC would strike in the top of the ninth, getting a one out single from Jamie Switalski (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) to start the rally. Anthony Gatto (Hauppauge, N.Y./Smithtown West) followed that up with a walk to put runners on first and second with one away. Andrew Casali (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) followed with a fielders' choice that moved Switalski to third, and then scored on a throwing error to cut the deficit to 4-1. However the Yellow Jackets would quell the run, ending the game with a 4-1 win.

Switalski went 2-4 from the dish with a run scored to lead the offense. Starter Conrad Wozniak (Cypress, Texas/Cypress Woods/Frank Phillip) went five full innings, giving up six hits and three earned runs with four strikeouts in the loss. 

Game two of the three game set begins at 2 p.m. tomorrow from Atlanta.