Marion, N.C.-- UMBC baseball defeated UNC Asheville, 3-2 on Friday afternoon in the 2019 season opener. The win is the third time the Retrievers have won the season opener in four years. UMBC scored all three runs in the first two innings and held on late, thanks to six strikeouts by Stephen Schoch (Laurel, Md./Good Counsel/Appalachian State) for the save.

The Retrievers improve to 1-0 on the year, while the Bulldogs fall to 0-4.

UMBC got the scoring started in the top of the first. After Andres Machado (Coral Gables, Fla.) ripped a one out single to right, Joey Goodwin (Rockville, Md./Good Counsel) doubled him home to put the Retrievers in front.

The Retrievers added a pair the very next inning thanks to a leadoff walk by Terrence Pinkston (La Plata, Md./McDonough/Norfolk State). Pinkston would advance to second on a wild pitch, then be singled over to third by Blaze O'Saben (Warrenton, Va.). Pinkston scored just pitches later on a double steal to give UMBC a 2-0 lead. O'Saben would steal third and eventually score on a sacrifice fly by AJ Wright (Cherry Hill, N.J.) to make it 3-0 early.

From there, the Retrievers would be stymied at the plate, with the Bulldogs cutting the deficit to 3-2 after scoring a pair in the fourth.

The Retrievers would load the bases in both the seventh and eighth innings, but each time stranded all three runners on base.

Schoch came in and held the Bulldogs scoreless over the last three innings, striking out six for his 11th career save, tying the program record set by Denis Mikush in 2016.

Andy Rozylowicz (Annapolis, Md./DeMatha) picks up the win going 2.1 innings of relief, giving up one hit with two strikeouts.

Five different Retrievers recorded hits with Wright and Goodwin driving in runs.

Game two of the series will be played tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 23 with first pitch at 2 p.m.