Tournament Central

Baltimore, Md.-- UMBC baseball dropped the opener 3-2 in extra innings before winning the nightcap, 6-1. UMBC will be the three seed in the upcoming America East Tournament, as they look to defend their conference crown.

UMBC finishes the year at 22-27, 12-11 AE while Albany finishes at 19-26, 9-14 AE. Albany will be the six seed and will face the Retrievers in the first round.

Game One:

The Retrievers got things going early with AJ Wright (Cherry Hill, N.J.) hitting a leadoff home run to left to put UMBC in front 1-0.

Albany would take the lead after runs in the second and third put them up 2-1. UMBC responded the next half inning, with freshman Joey Goodwin (Rockville, Md./Good Counsel) drilling a solo home run to knot it at 2-2.

From there, both pitching staffs settled in, not giving up many hits as both teams struggled to find any offense. The Retrievers had a chance in the ninth, but could not cash in with the game going to extra innings.

Albany would take the lead in the 11th on a solo home run, holding off UMBC for a win in game one.

Goodwin led the way with three hits, with Wright adding two.

Game Two:

UMBC got out to a fast start with Raven Beeman (Somerset, Pa.) lacing a single up the middle to score Wright and Zack Bright (Fairfax Station, Va.) in the first. Wright continued his strong day at the plate, singling home Dalton Stewart (Sharpsburg, Md./Boonsboro) in the second to put UMBC ahead 3-0.

Albany cuts into the deficit with a run in the fifth, but the Retrievers responded with a pair of bases loaded walks to push them back in front 5-1. UMBC added insurance in the sixth to take the regular season finale 6-1.

Wright had another multi-hit game, going 2-4 with one RBI. Beeman drove in two as Max Goron (Laurel, Md./Reservoir) earned his fourth win of the year in two innings of relief.

The Retrievers and Great Danes will square off once more to open the America East Tournament. First pitch between UMBC and Albany is set for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+.